Thanks afternoon crew.
End-of-day wrap:
The share market trimmed a losing month with a fourth day of gains following better-than-expected Chinese factory data.
The ASX 200 inched up eight points or 0.1% as Telstra, Wesfarmers and the big four banks advanced.
The major iron ore producers overcame early weakness after China's official measure of factory activity contracted for a fifth straight month, but by less than economists expected. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index improved to 49.7 this month from 49.3 in July. A separate measure of services sector activity was softer than anticipated.
This week's four-session win run was not enough to overcome weakness through the first half of the month. The ASX 200 ended August with a monthly loss of 105 points or 1.4%.
