(Yicai Global) April 30 -- China's manufacturing sector has expanded more slowly than expected in April after the purchasing managers' index hit a multi-month high in March.

The official manufacturing PMI was down 0.4 point at 50.1 for this month, according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. Market forecasts had expected growth to remain on par with last month's 50.5.

China has two key PMIs. The official PMI is run by the state and comprises 3,000 companies, most of which are large and state-owned, and the Caixin index, often known as the Caixin-Markit Index, reaches out to 500 businesses that are typically smaller and privately owned.

A number above 50 in either index indicated expansion, a figure below 50 suggests contraction.

The official composite PMI, which measures output in both manufacturing and services, was down 0.6 point at 53.4.

Editor: James Boynton