US February ISM Manufacturing in Contraction for 16th Straight Month on Pullback in New Orders, Production Mainly due to Seasonal Adjustments
–ISM Manufacturing Index 47.8 Vs. 49.1 in January; Median Forecast 49.5–ISM’s Fiore: Index Likely to Rise Above Neutral Line of 50 in March or April–Fiore: Pandemic-era Seasonal Adjustments Causing Volatility in Subindexes By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity was in contraction territory for the 16th straight month in February, with the key index […]
Japan January Industrial Production Index Sinks to Over 3-Year Low, Hit by Toyota Group Daihatsu Motor Suspension Over Crash Test Scandal
–METI Survey: Factory Output Likely to Rise Moderately in February, Gain Further in March–METI Downgrades View: Output Has Weakened While Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI To Keep Watching Effects of Global Growth, Auto Output Suspension By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production plunged 7.5% on the month in January, hit by suspended […]
Japan January Exports Up on Continued Solid Demand for Autos, Chip-Making Machines but Trade Balance Slips Back into Deficit
–Imports Mark 10th Straight Y/Y Fall on Lower Energy Prices, Slower Demand for Smartphones–Exports to China Post 2nd Straight Rise after A Year-Long Slump; Partly Due to Base Year Effects–Exports to US Remain Robust; Those to EU Also Up Despite Region’s Sluggish Economic Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values rose 11.9% on […]
Japan December Core Machine Orders Rebound on Higher Demand from Manufacturers; Computer Orders Remain Mixed
–Core Orders Dip in Q4 as Largely Expected, Seen Up in Q1 for 1st Rise in 4 Quarters–Core Orders Mark 10th Straight Y/Y Drop Despite Solid Capex Plans–Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese core machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, rebounded 2.7% in […]
Japan November Core Machine Orders Slump for 1st Drop in 3 Months on Lower Demand from Manufacturers; Computer Orders Mixed
–Core Orders Mark 9th Straight Y/Y Drop Despite Solid FY23 Capex Plans –Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese core machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, came in much weaker than expected in November, down 4.9% for the first drop in three months after […]
ISM: US Services Sector Expands for 12th Month in December but Growth Slows on Seasonal Drop in Hiring, Economic Uncertainty, Geopolitical Risks
–ISM Services Index Falls to 7-Month Low of 50.6 from 52.7 in November –ISM’s Nieves: Employment Picture Hasn’t Changed Much –Nieves: Services Sector Expected to Be on Growth Path in 2024 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Business activity in the U.S. services sector managed to expand for the 12th straight month in December but the […]
Japan November Exports Post 1st Y/Y Dip in 3 Months on Softer Demand for Iron/Steel, Chip-Making Equipment but Autos Remain Up
–Imports Mark 8th Straight Y/Y Fall on Easing Energy Import Costs –Exports to China Down for 12th Straight Month on Semiconductors; Pace of Decline Slows –Exports to US Post 26th Straight Y/Y Rise; Those to EU Dip For 1st Time in 33 Months By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values came in weaker than […]
BOJ December Quarter Tankan: Major Manufacturers’ Sentiment Posts 3rd Straight Rise on Improved Supply Chains but Outlook Cautious on High Costs, Labor Shortages
–Major Non-Manufacturers’ Confidence Up for 7th Straight Quarter –Many Sectors Expect Pullback in March in Payback for Recent Improvement –Large Firms’ Combined Fiscal 2023 Capex Plans Revised Down Only Slightly; Small Firms Raise Theirs Further By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Confidence among manufacturers and non-manufacturers in Japan all picked up more than expected in December […]
Japan October Exports Post 2nd Straight Y/Y Rise on Solid Demand for Autos but Trade Balance Slips Back into Deficit amid Slower Global Growth
–Export Volumes Down After 1st Y/Y Gain in 12 Months in September –Imports Mark 7th Straight Y/Y Fall on Easing Energy Prices –Exports to China Show 11th Straight Y/Y Drop on Chips, Iron/Steel By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values posted their second straight year-over-year increase in October, rising a stronger-than-expected 1.6% to the […]
Japan September Exports Post 1st Y/Y Rise in 3 Months to Record High on Solid Demand for Autos, Leading to 1st Trade Surplus in 3 Months
–Export Volumes Also Mark 1st Y/Y Gain in 12 Months –Imports Mark 6th Straight Y/Y Fall on Easing Energy Prices –Exports to China See 10th Straight Y/Y Drop on Declines in Semiconductors, Foodstuff By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values posted their first year-over-year rise in three months to a record high in September, […]