The Chinese manufacturing PMI fell to 49.0 in February from 49.4 in January, according to the Chinese government. It was the lowest reading since November 2011.

Analysts had expected the index to decline to 49.3.

A reading above the 50 mark indicates expansion, a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

The new orders subindex fell to 48.6 in February from 49.5 in January, while the production subindex decclined to 50.2 from 51.4

The services PMI decreased to 52.7 in February from 53.5 in January.