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