BEIJING, Dec. 1 -- Growth in China's manufacturing sector moderates slightly in November, official data showed on Monday, suggesting business sentiment remains subdued as economic growth slows.

The manufacturing purchasing manager's index (PMI), a key measure of factory activity in China, posted at 50.3 in November, down 0.5 percentage points from October, according to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 represents contraction.