China's official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 56.1 in December from 55.6 in November, according to a statement Thursday from the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, which issues the data with the National Bureau of Statistics. The December reading marks the third straight month of gains. The rise adds to recent signs of a rebound in the world's second-largest economy, and will likely boost market confidence in the country's economic outlook. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in non-manufacturing activity from the previous month, while anything below that indicates contraction. ... (full story)