Chinese services activity strengthens.

The China HSBC services PMI rose to 52.8 in August from 51.3 in July in a reading that's largely consistent with the official non-manufacturing PMI print. Stronger demand and promotions lifted new orders, HSBC says, although the employment sub-index contracted for the first time since April. Still, the improvement in the services sector adds to PMI data showing that the manufacturing industry is stabilizing.