Leading index gains in April

A leading index for China rose at the same pace in April as the prior month, offering investors some comfort that the world's second-biggest economy may avoid a deeper slowdown.

The gauge, the Leading Economic Index, increased 0.8 percent from March to 232.4, the New York-based research group Conference Board Inc said in an e-mailed statement, citing a preliminary reading.

That compares with a 0.8 percent gain in March and 1 percent in February.

The Chinese government may announce stimulus measures in the near term, the China Securities Journal reported on Monday, a day after the premier pledged to concentrate more on bolstering economic growth.