WASHINGTON - China, the top buyer of US Treasury securities, raised its holding in February after cuts for two consecutive months, the latest data from the Treasury Department showed Friday.

China increased its holding of the treasuries by $14.4 billion to $1.2523 trillion in February, following a cut of $8.2 billion in the previous month.

Japan, the second largest foreign holder of US treasuries, increased its holding by $9.6 billion to $1.1331 trillion in February.

In February, overall foreign holdings of US Treasury securities rose to $6.2362 trillion from January's $6.1833 trillion.