OREANDA-NEWS. September 05, 2013. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in more than a year in August with a jump in new orders.
 
The purchasing managersбп index, rose to 51 in August from 50.3 in July, the highest level since April last year. A reading above 50 indicates expanding activity, while a reading below 50 points to a contraction.
 
But growth was uneven. Large enterprises performed the best with an overall PMI of 51.8%, while factory activity for medium and small enterprises was still contracting, with readings of 49.6 percent and 49.2 percent.