China's business climate index drops in Q4

China's business climate index, a major gauge of the country's macroeconomic outlook, dropped in the fourth quarter, according to data released on Monday.

The index was 119.5 points for the fourth quarter, down two points from the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.

The figure continued to stay above 100 points, indicating that Chinese enterprises were still operating in an upbeat climate, the statement said.

The index ranges from zero to 200 points, with a reading of more than 100 indicating a sound and optimistic climate, while a reading below 100 is a sign of a pessimistic business environment.

The indices for large, medium-sized and small enterprises were 134.2, 121 and 109 points respectively. All indices dropped from the third quarter of the year, the statement said.

On Monday, the NBS also released other key economic figures. The country's gross domestic product grew 7.7 percent in 2013, beating the full-year target of 7.5 percent.