Manufacturing PMI rises to 49.7 in July

China's official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 49.7 in July, up from 49.4 in June, according to a statement of the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.

The non-manufacturing business activity index stood at 53.7 in July, compared with 54.2 in the previous month.

The composite index, which combines results of manufacturing and non-manufacturing surveys, came in at 53.1 in July, up from 53 in June.

A reading above 50 indicates activity expansion while one below that mark means contraction.