1st LD-Writethru: China property investment rises 7.2 pct in Jan.- April

Investment in China's property sector rose 7.2 percent year on year in the first four months of 2016, official data showed on Saturday.

Growth picked up following the 6.2-percent gain in Q1, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Investment in residential housing grew 6.4 percent in the first four months.

In floor terms, property sales jumped 36.5 percent in the first four months, higher than the 33.1-percent gain in the first quarter.

Sales revenue surged 55.9 percent in the first four months, compared with the 54.1-percent gain seen in the first quarter.

China's property sector has shown signs of improvement in the last four months, with home prices rising in big cities including Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai.

But markets in smaller cities remain subdued due to a supply glut, and the government is making destocking a top priority. Endi