China's factory activity expanded for the first time since April, official surveys showed

BEIJING – China's official purchasing managers' index for October came in at 50.1 in expansion territory for the first time since April, according to National Bureau of Statistics data released on Thursday.

D Information Beat expectations for 49.9, according to a Reuters poll. September's reading was 49.8. The last time the PMI was above the 50-point line that defines contraction from activity was in April, with a reading of 50.4.

The manufacturing sub-index came in at 52 for October, while new orders were 50. Raw materials inventories ticked up to 48.2, still in contraction territory, with employment at 48.4, which was mildly better than the previous month.

The Bureau of Statistics' PMI for non-manufacturing activities rose to 50.2 in October. This was up from 50 in September but was below August's 50.3 print.

The employment portion of the non-manufacturing PMI rose 1.1 percentage points to 45.8.

A survey released Wednesday by the U.S.-based China Beige Book of 1,436 Chinese businesses between Oct. 18 and 25 showed that manufacturing output improved from a year earlier. New domestic and export orders also rose, with export orders from the US falling less sharply in October.

The Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI for October is due out on Friday, while the Caixin China General Services PMI is scheduled for release on November 5.

China's economic growth has slowed, dragged down by weak consumer demand and a slump in real estate. Exports have been a rare bright spot.

Stocks rose after a series of high-profile stimulus announcements in the past few weeks, including a meeting in late September led by Chinese President Xi Jinping that called for tightening fiscal and monetary policy support.

China's parliament's standing committee is scheduled to meet next week, and is expected to release details on the sweeping fiscal stimulus after the November 8 meeting.