The Caixin China Composite PMI data (which covers both manufacturing and services) signalled a solid upturn in Chinese business activity at the end of 2017. At 53.0, the Composite Output Index picked up from 51.6 in November to indicate the fastest rate of activity growth for a year. Steeper increases in activity were registered across both the manufacturing and service sectors during December. Notably, services companies recorded the quickest expansion in activity since August 2014. This was shown by the seasonally adjusted Caixin China General Services Business Activity Index rising from 51.9 in November to 53.9 at the end of the year. Meanwhile, manufacturing output increased at a pace that, though modest, was the strongest seen for three months.