China service sector growth slows to 4-month low in February - Caixin

Caixin China services purchasing managers' index slipped to 52.6 in February from 53.1 in January, Caixin Media and research firm Markit said. Findings echoed a similar softening in growth in China's official services activity survey released on Wednesday

The Caixin China composite output index rose to 52.6 in February from January's four-month low of 52.2. China's private sector expanded at a slightly faster pace in February supported by manufacturing activity amid softening services growth.

Optimism towards future activity growth remained strongly positive in February. At the composite level, sentiment towards the business outlook edged up to its highest since May 2015.

The Chinese economy is expected to maintain the growth momentum in the first quarter of this year, Zhengsheng Zhong, director of macroeconomic analysis at CEBM Group said. "But signs of weakening may emerge from the second quarter."