China's manufacturing activity expands for 7th month

BEIJING - China's manufacturing sector expanded for the seventh month in a row, adding evidence that the world's second largest economy is stabilizing amid uncertain global outlook.

The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.6 percent in February, 0.3 percentage points higher than that recorded in January, according to data released Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.