TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - The manufacturing sector in Japan continued to contract in August, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Nikkei revealed on Tuesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 49.6.
That's up from 49.3 in July, although it remains beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Individually, the output index swung to expansion for the first time since February, while new orders, new export orders, stocks of purchases and stocks of finished goods all contracted at a slower rate.
Employment turned to contraction after expanding in the previous month.
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