(Yicai) Jan. 31 -- China's three major purchasing managers' indexes -- manufacturing PMI, non-manufacturing business activity index, and composite PMI output index -- rebounded this month, showing an overall improvement in the country's economic sentiment.

The manufacturing PMI rose 0.2 point to 49.2 in January from December, ending a three-month decline, according to data released today by the National Bureau of Statistics. However, the figure remained in contraction territory as it came in at under 50, the mark that separates growth from contraction.

Business expectations remained basically stable this month, said Zhao Qinghe, senior statistician at the Service Survey Center of the NBS. The production and business activity expectations sub-index came in at 54 this month, Zhao added.

The production sub-index rose 1.1 point to 51.3 percent this month from December, the highest in four months, according to NBS data.

The new order sub-index inched up 0.3 point to 49 in the period, with the new export order sub-index jumping 1.3 point. These figures indicate an improved sentiment of both domestic and external demand.

The business activity index for the non-manufacturing sector came in at 50.7 this month, up 0.3 point from December, the NBS said.

The business activity sub-index for the service industry jumped 0.8 point to 50.1 in January from the previous month, while that for the construction industry plunged 3 points to 53.9 as the industry entered an off-peak season because of the low winter temperatures and Chinese New Year holiday.

The business activity expectations sub-index for the service industry came in at 59.3 this month, basically unchanged from December, Zhao noted, adding that companies in the service sector maintained stable confidence in the market development.

Meanwhile, the business activity expectations sub-index for the construction industry stood at 61.9 percent in January, indicating strong confidence among constructors, Zhao pointed out.

The composite PMI output index rose 0.6 point to 50.9 this month from the previous one, indicating that Chinese businesses' production and operation activities continued to expand, according to NBS data.

Editor: Futura Costaglione