Activity in China's services sector continued to rise in June, although at the slowest pace in nine months, S&P Global and Caixin revealed in their report issued on Thursday. The General Services Business Activity reached 50.6, declining from May's 51.1.

Meanwhile, the Composite Output Index, which calculates the joint results achieved in services and manufacturing, returned to the expansion territory, going from 49.6 in May to 51.3 in June.

"In June, business activity and total new orders both grew for the 30th consecutive month but at slower clips than the previous month. External uncertainties had a greater negative impact on service exports, with new export business continuing to decline," Caixin Insight Group Senior Economist Dr. Wang Zhe said. "While some of the existing stimulus policies may have front-loaded short-term consumption, unleashing consumption potential in the long term still relies on stabilizing employment, reinforcing confidence, and increasing incomes."