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☆ Japan's factory activity contracts most in over three years
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An employee checks gaskets after processing them in an automatic press machine at the Hamamatsu Gasket Co. factory in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. Japan's February factory activity shrank at the fastest pace in more than three years on the back of weakening demand. The au Jibun Bank's flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to to 47.2 in February, compared with January's 48.0 reading, indicating continued contraction in private sector business activity. The reading signals a ninth consecutive deterioration in business activity and the strongest contraction recorded since August 2020, according to au Jibun Bank. Operating conditions in the country's manufacturing sector continued to deteriorate in February.

Organizations: Japan's, Jibun Bank Locations: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

☆ Asia-Pacific markets, Korea rate decision, Australia and Japan PMI
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Asia-Pacific markets appeared set to trade mixed Thursday, with a slew of economic data from the region on tap, while investors also assess the U.S. Federal Reserve possibly delaying interest rate cuts. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 opened marginally higher, up 0.03%, as the nation's Judo Bank composite purchasing managers' index for February showed a return to growth, at 51.8. The monthly index is a leading indicator for business activity in Australia's manufacturing sector. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 16,447, pointing to a weaker start compared with the HSI's close of 16,503.1Japan's Nikkei 225 was set to rise as investors awaited the release of Japan's Jibun Bank flash purchasing managers' index. Nikkei futures contract in Chicago was at 38,745 and its counterpart in Osaka was at 38,410 against the index's last close of 38,262.16The Bank of Korea is slated to announce its interest rate decision later, with economists polled by Reuters expecting the bank to hold rates at 3.50%.

Organizations: U.S . Federal, nation's Judo Bank, Futures, Nikkei, Japan's, of, Reuters Locations: Asia, Pacific, Australia, Chicago, Osaka, of Korea

☆ Asia markets largely set to rise ahead of trade and factory activity data from Japan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A flag of Japan flies near cargo containers at Tokyo's Odaiba Waterfront on August 6, 2020. Asia-Pacific markets are largely set to rise as investors monitor economic data out of Japan as well as factory activity data from Australia. Japan will release its December trade data and see private surveys from the au Jibun bank on its January purchasing managers index, a day after the Bank of Japan left its monetary policy unchanged. Australia also saw flash PMI surveys from Juno Bank, which showed an expansion in manufacturing activity in January after 11 straight months of contraction. Business activity in the country also saw a softer contraction in January compared to December.

Organizations: Bank of Japan, Juno Bank Locations: Japan, Asia, Pacific, Australia

☆ Asia factory activity weakens, uncertainty on China clouds outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An employee works on a production line manufacturing steel structures at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China May 17, 2020. The data shows that factories are producing less and hiring fewer people," Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China, said of China's PMI readings, which have different samples. Export-reliant Japan, South Korea and Taiwan bore the brunt of sluggish global demand with their manufacturing activity remaining stagnant in November, surveys showed. Japan's final au Jibun Bank manufacturing PMI fell to 48.3 in November from 48.7 in October, shrinking at the fastest pace in nine months. Manufacturing activity also shrank in Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, but expanded in Indonesia and the Philippines, the surveys showed.

Persons: Dan Wang, Toru Nishihama, Leika Kihara, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, PMI, Korea Soft, P Global, Hang Seng Bank, Dai, Research, Jibun Bank, Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China, Japan, S, TOKYO, Europe, United States, Hang Seng Bank China, South Korea, Taiwan, Asia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

☆ Japan's factory activity shrinks for 6th month on weak demand - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) slipped to 48.1 in November from 48.7 in October. "Demand conditions at private sector firms remained muted in November and were little-changed from October." The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI stood at 51.7 in November, little changed from 51.6 in October, showing modest expansion in the sector, but it was the second-weakest reading so far this year. Firms stayed confident about the business activity outlook for one year ahead, the survey said. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI, which combines both manufacturing and service sector activity, stood at 50.0 in November from 50.5 in October.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Usamah Bhatti, Kaori Kaneko, Kim COghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, P Global Market Intelligence, PMI, Firms, Jibun Bank Flash Japan, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

Commercial and residential buildings at dusk in the Minato district of Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Asia-Pacific markets are largely set for a stronger open as investors assess key economic data out from Japan on Friday. The world's third largest economy saw its core inflation rate rise to 2.9% in October, higher than the 2.8% seen in September. The country will also expect flash estimates for its November factory activity from the au Jibun bank.

Locations: Minato, Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific

☆ Japan service activity posts slowest growth this year - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Japan's services activity expanded at the slowest pace this year in October, a business survey showed on Monday, reinforcing concerns that the key sector propelling economic growth is continuing to soften. The final au Jibun Bank Service purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 51.6 in October from 53.8 in September, beset by weak demand. "While the PMI data continue to make positive reading for the Japanese service sector, the recent trends suggest that growth is on the wane," said Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global. Employment returned to growth, but retirements offset the overall pace of job creation, the survey found. The worsening conflict in the Middle East and slower growth in China cloud the outlook for Japan, among the largest economies in the world.

Persons: Andrew Harker, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: Jibun Bank Service, P Global Intelligence, PMI, P, Employment, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, Japan

☆ Asia's factories squeezed as China's nascent recovery teeters
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Purchasing managers' indexes (PMIs) for factory powerhouses China, Japan and South Korea showed activity shrinking while Vietnam and Malaysia also struggled with the broadening fallout from a Chinese slowdown. "Overall, manufacturers were not in high spirits in October," said Wang Zhe, an economist at Caixin Insight Group, on China's survey outcome. Japan's factory activity shrank for a fifth straight month in October, the final au Jibun Bank PMI showed. South Korea's factory activity fell for the 16th straight month while PMIs from Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia also showed continued declines in activity. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that China's weak recovery and the risk of a more protracted property crisis could further dent Asia's economic prospects.

Persons: Stringer, Wang Zhe, Leika Kihara, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, PMI, P Global, Caixin Insight, Jibun, Murata Manufacturing, Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: Zouping, Shandong province, China, Japan, South Korea, TOKYO, Vietnam, Malaysia, PMIs, Taiwan, Asia

☆ Japan's factory, service sector activity under pressure in Oct - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity shrank for a fifth straight month in October while the service sector saw its weakest growth this year, a survey showed on Tuesday, amid growing uncertainty over the outlook for the world's third-largest economy. The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) remained flat at 48.5 in October. However, the October PMI data indicated further softening in the service sector, which anchored Japanese economy over recent quarters. The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI fell further to 51.1 in October from 53.8 in September last month, marking the slowest rate of growth since the beginning of this year. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI, which combines both manufacturing and service sector activity, fell to 49.9 in October from 52.1 in September, dropping below into contractionary territory for the first time since December.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Jingyi, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PMI, P Global Market Intelligence, Jibun Bank Flash Japan, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

☆ Japan's factory activity extends declines in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity fell at the fastest pace in seven months in September, a survey showed on Monday, as worsening global economic conditions continued to weaken demand. Output in September was the lowest since June while the decline in new orders was the steepest since February, S&P Global Market Intelligence data showed. "Depressed economic conditions domestically and globally weighed heavily on the sector," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which compiled the survey. The yen has come under pressure in recent months, weighed by the Bank of Japan's ultra-loose monetary policy that has inflated the costs of imported goods and squeezed manufacturers. The pessimistic headline figure followed government data published last week that showed Japanese factory output remained flat in August.

Persons: Usamah Bhatti, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: Jibun Bank, P Global Market Intelligence, Bank of Japan's, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Jibun Bank Japan, China, Taiwan

☆ Asia's factory activity weakens, China's rebound offers some hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While the rebound in China's factory conditions say be a sign official efforts to revive growth is starting to have some effect, manufacturing activity in most of Asia remained stagnant in August. "It's unlikely we'll see a sharp, quick rebound in China's economy. Asia has been among the few bright spots in the global economy, though persistent weakness in China cloud the outlook. It expects China's economy to expand 5.2% this year after a 3.0% increase in 2022. Factory activity also contracted in Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines last month, with Indonesia the outlier with a modest expansion, surveys showed.

Persons: Siyi Liu, Toru Nishihama, Leika, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, PMI, P Global, Dai, Research, International Monetary Fund, Jibun Bank, Thomson Locations: Dezhou, Shandong province, China, Japan, Korea, TOKYO, Asia, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia

☆ Japan's factory activity falls on soft orders - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Aug 1 - Japan's factory activity contracted at a faster pace in July, a business survey showed on Tuesday, taking a hit from soft orders amid weakening global economic conditions. Data on Monday showed Japan's factory output grew in June for the first time in two months thanks to solid auto production. Subindexes gauging new orders and output both stayed in the sub-50 territory in June for a second month. Japan has to date weathered worsening global economic conditions relatively well thanks to robust domestic service activity and ultra-loose monetary policy. On a brighter note, the S&P survey showed easing cost pressures for companies thanks to sliding fuel and commodity prices.

Persons: Usamah Bhatti, Bhatti, Sam Holmes Organizations: Jibun Bank, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Jibun Bank Japan, Japan

☆ Asia's factory activity shrinks as China's slump, global slowdown weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam saw manufacturing activity contract in July, the surveys showed, highlighting the strain sluggish Chinese demand is inflicting on the region. China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 49.2 in July from 50.5 in June, missing analysts' forecasts of 50.3 and marking the first decline in activity since April. "Falling new orders, bleak employment prospects and high inventory levels point to subdued factory activity in the coming months." Japan's final au Jibun Bank PMI fell to 49.6 in July, down from 49.8 in June, due to weak domestic and overseas demand. In India, growth in manufacturing activity slowed for a second month, but the pace of expansion remained healthy and beat expectations.

Persons: forestalling, PMIs, Shivaan Tandon, Leika Kihara, Sonali Paul Organizations: PMI, TOKYO, P Global, Emerging, Capital Economics, Jibun, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Japan, South Korea, Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Emerging Asia, India

☆ Japan's service activity maintains firm pace as demand picks up - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, July 5 (Reuters) - Japan's service activity maintained a brisk pace of growth in June as the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions revived consumer demand, a private-sector survey showed on Wednesday. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to a seasonally adjusted 54.0 last month from a record-high 55.9 in May. That compared with the flash reading of 54.2 and remained well above the 50 threshold separating expansion from contraction for the 10th straight month. The composite PMI, which combines the manufacturing and services activity figures, slowed last month after peaking in May. The index dropped to 52.1 in June from 54.3 in May, staying above the break-even 50 mark for the sixth straight month.

Persons: Usamah Bhatti, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: Jibun Bank Japan Services, P Global Market Intelligence, Bank of Japan, PMI, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

In Asia, while factory activity expanded marginally in China, it contracted in Japan and South Korea as Asia's economic recovery struggled to maintain momentum. REUTERS/Siyi LiuChina's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI eased to 50.5 in June from 50.9 in May, the private survey showed. The figure, combined with Friday's official survey that showed factory activity extending declines, adds to evidence the world's No. South Korea's PMI fell to 47.8 in June, extending its downturn to a record 12th consecutive month on weak demand in Asia and Europe. Factory activity also contracted in Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, the PMI surveys showed.

Persons: Rory Fennessy, lockdowns, Toru Nishihama, Siyi Liu China's, Jonathan Cable, Sam Holmes, David Evans Organizations: PMI, European Central Bank, Oxford Economics, P, Dai, Research, REUTERS, P Global, Reuters, Jibun, of, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Japan, South Korea, China, TOKYO, Europe, Britain, Asia, United States, European, U.S, Dezhou, Shandong province, South, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, of Japan's

☆ Asia's factory output slumps as weak China demand weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While manufacturing activity expanded marginally in China, it contracted in powerhouses Japan and South Korea as Asia's fragile economic recovery struggled to maintain momentum. New orders from overseas customers decreased in June at the fastest rate in four months reflecting feeble demand from China, the Japan PMI survey showed. Factory activity also contracted in Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, the PMI surveys showed. Asia's economy is heavily reliant on the strength of China's economy, which saw growth rebound in the first quarter but subsequently fell short of expectations. The fate of Asia's economy, including China's, will have a huge impact on the global economy with aggressive monetary tightening to curb inflation likely to weigh on U.S. and European growth.

Persons: Liu, lockdowns, Toru Nishihama, Leika Kihara, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, PMI, Dai, Research, P Global, Reuters, Jibun, Japan PMI, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Dezhou, Shandong province, China, Japan, South Korea, TOKYO, Asia, U.S, Europe, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia

☆ Japan factory activity slips back into contraction in June on soft orders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity contracted in June after expanding for the first time in 7 months in May, a private survey showed on Monday, dragged down by weak orders for cyclical goods amid a global economic slowdown. Output and new orders, the subindexes that constitute the majority of the headline index, fell back to contraction, ending a brief rebound buoyed by improved business confidence. New orders from overseas customers decreased at the fastest rate in four months, notably reflecting feeble demand from China, Japan's biggest trade partner. The soft PMI reading came after Friday's government data showed Japanese manufacturing output falling more than expected in May, dented by automakers' parts shortage and production cuts. The rise in input and output prices were the slowest in 28 months and 21 months, respectively.

Persons: Usamah Bhatti, Kantaro, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Jibun Bank, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Jibun Bank Japan, China, dented, Japan

Asia-Pacific markets are set for a mixed open as investors look to inflation data out of Japan and Singapore, as well as flash estimates from the au Jibun bank on Japan's manufacturing and services activity. Japan's core inflation rate in May eased slightly to 3.2% year-on-year, lower than April's 3.4% but still above the BOJ's 2% target. In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 were at 7,145, lower than the index's last close of 7,195.5. Should the losses hold, Australia is on pace for a third-straight day of losses, after seeing its largest one-day fall in June on Thursday. Mainland Chinese markets are closed Friday for a public holiday.

Organizations: Nikkei, Reuters Locations: Asia, Pacific, Japan, Singapore, Chicago, Osaka, Australia

☆ Japan's service activity expands at record pace in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, June 5 (Reuters) - Japan's service sector activity expanded at a record pace in May, a private-sector survey showed on Monday, thanks to a recovery in overseas demand and a surge of foreign tourists as pandemic restrictions were eased further. "The upward trend looks set to continue in the near and medium term," as outstanding business expanded at a record rate and business optimism held near an all-time high. The subindex measuring outstanding business rose at the fastest pace on record as disruptions caused by the pandemic continued to wane. Business expectations for the coming year remained robust, though the pace of increase slowed slightly from April, the survey showed. The composite PMI, which combines the manufacturing and services activity figures, expanded at the fastest pace since October 2013.

Persons: Usamah Bhatti, Kaori Kaneko, Kim Coghill Organizations: Jibun Bank Japan Services, P Global Market Intelligence, Service, PMI, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan

☆ Asia's factories struggle for momentum amid patchy recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The PMI surveys suggest that China's economic recovery was still ongoing in May, albeit at a slower pace. China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI rose to 50.9 in May from 49.5 in April, above the 50-point index mark that separates growth from contraction. Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan also saw factory activity shrink in May, while that of the Philippines expanded, the surveys showed. Asia's economy is heavily reliant on the strength of China's recovery, which has been uneven with services spending outperforming activity in export-oriented sectors. In forecasts released in May, the International Monetary Fund said it expects Asia's economy to expand 4.6% this year after a 3.8% gain in 2022, contributing around 70% of global growth.

Persons: Julian Evans, Pritchard, Wang Zhe, Leika Kihara, Sam Holmes Organizations: PMI, Capital Economics, P Global, Caixin Insight, Jibun, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, TOKYO, China, Japan, Asia, South, Malaysia, Philippines

Asia-Pacific markets are trading mixed on Monday after Wall Street snapped a four-day losing streak Friday. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 opened 0.47% higher, while in South Korea, the Kospi rose 0.62% and the Kosdaq was up 0.76%. Japan's Nikkei 225 sunk 0.46% in early trade, while the Topix reversed earlier losses and gained 0.15%. Au Jibun bank is slated to release private surveys on its services purchasing managers index for Japan later Monday, as well as its composite purchasing managers index. Futures tied to Hong Kong's Hang Seng index point to a lower open for the index, trading at 19,984 compared to its last close of 20,049.31.

☆ Japan's service activity grows at record pace in April - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 8 - Japan's services activity grew at a record pace in April, a private-sector survey showed on Monday, helped by a boost in consumer spending following the end of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. New orders expanded at the fastest pace on record, the survey showed, citing a sharp return of spending for travel and tourism. "Around four times as many service providers expect an increase in activity as those that forecast a decline," Moore said. The subindex for employment expanded for a third month and at the fastest pace in four years, helped by stronger demand and confidence. The composite PMI, which combines the manufacturing and services figures, grew at the fastest pace since June 2022.

☆ Japan's service activity grows at record pace in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

☆ Japan's factory activity contracts at slower pace in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 1 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity contracted for the sixth straight month in April, but the details of a private survey released on Monday showed the manufacturing sector was edging towards stabilisation amid a slower decline in new orders. New orders contracted at the softest pace since July while remaining below the 50.0 threshold for a tenth consecutive month as inbound demand stabilised moderately. Factory output also contracted for a tenth consecutive month, with some manufacturers citing that raw materials shortages had weighed on production. Input price inflation eased to its slowest pace since August 2021, although prices were still relatively high to due rising costs for raw materials. Employment grew at the strongest pace since October, while business confidence remained robust and little changed from March.

Sydney Harbour taking in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and ferries at sunrise during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Australian and Japanese markets are both trading higher even as most Asian markets are closed for the Labor Day holiday Monday. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.14%, as the country saw its factory activity in April contracted at its fastest pace in 35 months, with private surveys from Juno Bank showing its purchasing managers index standing at 48. Au Jibun bank will release Japan's factory activity data for April later in the day. Over the weekend, China's factory activity unexpectedly slipped into contraction territory with its official manufacturing purchasing managers index at 49.2, in contrast to economists expectations of 51.4.

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