New Delhi, March 2 -- India's manufacturing activity strengthened further in February, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to a four-month high of 56.9 from 55.4 in January, according to data released by HSBC.

However, the data report noted that the pace of growth in new export orders eased to its slowest in 17 months.

The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) - a gauge of overall conditions derived from measures of new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times and stocks of purchases.

HSBC said that the PMI numbers "rose from 55.4 in January to a four-month high of 56.9 in February. The latest figure was consistent with a marked improvement in the health of the sector"

Th...