The Chinese official manufacturing PMI fell to the lowest level over the past five months, confounding analysts' forecasts.
The government's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 49.9 in July from the level of 50.0 in June. The 50 threshold separates expansion from contraction.
Meanwhile, analysts had expected the reading to be unchanged. According to the forecast, the Chinese manufacturing PMI score of 50 was to remain in July.
