CHINA'S NBS MANUFACTURING PMI IMPROVES TO 49.7 IN AUGUST VS. 49.4 EXPECTED. China’s official Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose further to 49.7 in August, compared with the 49.3 contraction in July, the latest data published by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Thursday.  The market expectation was for a 49.4 figure