China economic growth slowest in 25 years

China's economy grew by 6.9% in 2015, compared with 7.3% a year earlier, marking its slowest growth in a quarter of a century.

Annual growth in the world's second-largest economy was in line with global expectations.

Beijing, meanwhile, had set an official growth target of "about 7%" for 2015.

However, Premier Li Keqiang has said a slower growth rate would be acceptable, as long as enough new jobs were created.

Analysts, on the other hand, have said any growth numbers below 6.8% would be likely to fuel calls for further stimulus.

As its economic expansion continues to slow, China has been attempting to move towards an economy led by consumption and services, rather than one driven by exports and investments.

However, ongoing growth worries have prompted the country's central bank to cut interest rates six times since November 2014.

Recent falls on Chinese equity markets have also created panic on global markets about the mainland's economic strength - a major driver of global growth.

"Given movements in the stock market, I expect we are likely to get a rate cut at any time ahead of Chinese New Year [8 February] regardless," said Eamonn Sheridan, Forexlive's chief Asia-Pacific currency analyst.