China’s foreign-exchange reserves rose last month for the first time in eight months due to Beijing’s concerted effort to stanch capital outflows as well as valuation changes in the stockpile’s assets. The reserves—the world’s largest—increased by $6.92 billion in February to $3.005 trillion, following a drop of $12.31 billion in January, according to data released by the People’s Bank of China on Tuesday. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected a $28 billion decrease in February. The gain lifted the reserves back above the $3 trillion mark, after their fall below that level in January. Economists attributed the increase to the government’s broad-ranging measures to stem the flow of money moving offshore, prop up a yuan weakening against the US dollar and bolster sagging confidence in the economy.