1st LD: China's manufacturing activity expands for 4th month

China's manufacturing activity continued to expand for a fourth month in November, providing further evidence of a strengthening Chinese economy, official data showed Thursday.

The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 51.7 in November, up from 51.2 in October and staying above the 50-point boom-bust line for the fourth straight month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.

The last time manufacturing expanded at this pace was July 2014, and the last time the figure exceeded 51.7 was April 2012, when the number reached 53.3.

NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe attributed the steady upward trend to improving domestic demand, booming manufacturing in consumer goods and high-tech sectors, and better foreign trade figures.

The sub-index for production rose for a fourth month to 53.9, while that for new orders moved up for a second month to 53.2, both hitting their highest point this year.

The new export orders sub-index accelerated from 49.2 in October to 50.3 in November, while the import sub-index rose from 49.9 to 50.6, the NBS said.

China's non-manufacturing activity also expanded at a faster pace in November, with the PMI rising to 54.7 from 54 in October.

The data came before the release of the Caixin manufacturing PMI, a private gauge of manufacturing activity, which showed a slightly slower expansion. Endi