Factory activity recovers in July

Tax, fee and reserve requirement ratio cuts to ease burden on companies

The official purchasing managers' index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 49.7 in July, up from 49.4 in June, signaling a recovery in activities as it was the first month-on-month rebound in four months, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.

The sub index for production gained 0.8 points to 52.1 in July while the index for new orders rebounded by 0.2 points to 49.8, according to the NBS. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below that reflects contraction.