Markit/ Nikkei Manufacturing PMI for October

  • Flash 52.5, prior 51.0

"Key points" from Markit:

  • Growth in production accelerates to the fastest since February
  • New orders increase at sharpest rate in a year
  • Employment and buying activity increase, following declines seen in September

Comments from Amy Brownbill, economist at Markit

  • "Operating conditions at Japanese manufacturers improved substantially at the start of the final quarter of 2015.
  • Growth in production accelerated to the fastest since February, underpinned by a sharp rise in total new orders.
  • Supporting the marked increase in new work intakes was a rise in international demand as new export order growth resumed, having contracted slightly in the prior month.
  • Subsequently both employment and buying activity increased, following declines seen in September.
  • Meanwhile, cost pressures were evident as purchasing prices rose, albeit at a weak rate. In contrast, charges fell for the second straight month with manufacturers reporting pressure from their clients to push down their selling prices."

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Although the final print was a shade lower than the flash, a positive for Japan manufacturing

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Impact on the yen has minimal