Chinese index hits six-month high

A Chinese manufacturing index rose to a six-month high in September, signalling that a rebound in the world’s second-largest economy is gaining steam.

The preliminary reading of 51.2 for a Purchasing Managers’ Index released by HSBC Holdings plc and Markit Economics compared with a 50.9 median estimate from 14 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The gauge was at 50.1 in August.

A eurozone manufacturing and services gauge rose more than estimated this month, a separate Markit report showed yesterday.