28 February 2013, by Michael Kitchen - Los Angeles (MarketWatch)

A government-sponsored survey of Chinese manufacturing activity released Friday showed growth in the sector's activity slowing almost to a halt.

The China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing's version of the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 50.1 from the previous month's 50.4,

missing expectations for a rise to 50.5, according to a Dow Jones Newswires survey.

The reading was barely above the 50 mark separating expansion from contraction.

A preliminary reading of a privately run version of the China manufacturing PMI, released Monday, showed a drop to a four-month low of 50.4, down from 52.3 in the previous month.

The final version of that survey, put out by HSBC, was due later Friday.

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