China growth slows in Q4 but stocks rise on easing hopes

China's economy grew at its slowest pace in more than two years in the final quarter of 2011, latest government figures show.

Gross domestic product expanded by 8.9% in the three months to the end of December, from a year earlier. That is down from 9.1% the previous quarter.

The statistics bureau data showed growth for the full year for the world's second largest economy was 9.2%, down from 10.3% in 2010.

Real estate investment in China rose 27.9% in 2011, but this was down from an annual growth rate of 29.9% between January and November.

Meanwhile, output from factories and workshops in China rose 13.9% in 2011, which is a slower pace than in 2010.

Chinese authorities have been trying to boost levels of domestic consumption to reduce the country's reliance on exports.

However, China's stocks rose following the release of the data, sending the benchmark index up by the most since October 2009. Slowing economic growth has boosted expectations for monetary easing and speculation grew the government will support equities.

"There is speculation the government will ease monetary policies such as cutting the reserve requirement ratio," Dai Ming, a fund manager at Shanghai Kingsun Investment Management & Consulting Co, told Bloomberg. "There are also high expectations that more direct measures to support stocks will be unveiled."

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index advanced 92.18, or 4.2%, to 2,298.38 at the 3pm local-time close.