au Jibun Bank flash manufacturing PMI rises to 50.6 in Feb

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–au Jibun Bank’s flash manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for Japan rose to 50.6 in February from the final reading of 49.8 in January on improved export orders, the Japanese bank said on Friday.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion in the manufacturing economy.

New export business recorded growth in February, rising for the first time in four months and at the quickest pace since March 2018, the bank said.

“Business optimism strengthened in February, which marked the ninth consecutive month of positive sentiment among Japanese manufacturers,” it added.

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