Nikkei Manufacturing PMI for Japan, final for November

  • preliminary was 51.1, prior month 51.4

Key points: 

  • New orders increase at sharpest rate since January
  • Production expands for fourth consecutive month
  • Input prices broadly stabilise

Commentary from Amy Brownbill, economist at IHS Markit:

  • "The latest PMI data showed signs that conditions in the Japanese manufacturing sector continue to improve during the final quarter of 2016.
  • Production rose for the fourth month running, helped by a boost in total new orders.
  • The IHS Markit forecast for official industrial output in November also points to a similar trend with the year-on-year growth rate set to pick up to 2.1% in November (the highest reading in three months).
  • However, despite improvements in the sector, employment growth eased to a three-month low, suggesting confidence in the sector remains subdued."