China trade balance rises to $49.8 billion in August; exports +9.4%, imports -2.4% on year

China's trade balance rose to $49.8 billion in August, government data showed on Monday, topping a Reuters poll expecting $40 billion, and following the $47.3 billion reading in July. Exports jumped 9.4 percent from the year-ago period, beating estimates for a 8 percent gain but falling short of the 14.5 percent rise in the month before.