New Delhi, March 24 -- India's overall business activity growth eased slightly in March, as a robust manufacturing sector expansion failed to fully offset a slowdown in services, according to a private survey released Monday.

HSBC's flash India Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by S&P Global, edged down to 58.6 in March from February's final reading of 58.8, falling short of the 59.0 median prediction in a Reuters poll. The index remained well above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.

The manufacturing PMI rose to 57.6 from 56.3, continuing its expansion streak of more than three-and-a-half years. "India's manufacturing sector expanded at a faster pace in March... The output index rose to its highest level s...