Japan's factory activity slows to 50.9 in September

Sep 24, 2015

The Nikkei Flash Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, increased, though more slowly, at 50.9 in September. It was 51.7 in August.

A reading above 50 indicates economic expansion, while a reading below 50 points toward contraction.

"September PMI data pointed to a general slowdown in the expansion of the Japanese manufacturing sector," said Amy Brownbill, an economist at Markit, which compiles the survey.

"New order growth moderated, having increased in August at the fastest rate since January. Underpinning the slowdown in total new order growth was a sharp reduction in international demand as new export orders dropped to the greatest extent for 31 months," the economist added.

Source: Nikkei Asian Review