Korea: Manufacturing PMI rises in August
The S&P Global Korea Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) improved to 51.9 in August from 51.4 in July. As a result, the index moved further above the 50.0 no-change threshold, and signaled a faster improvement in manufacturing-sector operating conditions compared to the previous month.
The latest PMI reading was driven by stronger increases in employment, output and new orders, with output growth reaching a 40-month high. However, growth in new export orders slowed amid reported weakness in Mainland China and the U.S.
Input price inflation eased to its lowest in eight months, leading to a modest rise in output prices. Business sentiment improved, with optimism about future production reaching a three-month high.