China's PMI jumps in August, but private sector trails behind

Beijing

CHINA'S official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) jumped unexpectedly in August, led by infrastructure in state-owned companies (SOEs), but analysts say weaknesses remain.

The official index, more geared towards large SOEs than the private Caixin PMI index, came in at 50.4 - above the 50 point-mark which separates expansion from contraction. This is the highest reading in nearly two years.