US November ISM Manufacturing in Contraction for 8th Straight Month but Shows Signs of Pickup in early 2025; Firms Look at Bright Side of Potentially Business Friendly New Administration
–ISM Manufacturing Index at 48.4 vs. 46.5 in October, Well above Median Forecast of 47.6–ISM’s Fiore: Concerns about Inflationary Fiscal Policy Not Going Away but Optimism over Trump Plans Kicks in–ISM’s Fiore: US Economy on Soft-Landing Course; Still Believes ISM Index Likely to Pick Up Above Neutral Line of 50 in Q1 of 2025 By […]
Japan Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery but Warns It Now Needs to Watch Future US Policy amid Headwinds of Inflation, Middle East Tensions, Weak Yen
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue thanks to wage hikes amid widespread labor shortages, but urged a close watch on the future U.S. government policy as well as lingering high costs for necessities, geopolitical risks and the weak yen. In its […]
Japan Government Slightly Upgrades Its View on Economic Recovery after BOJ Conducts 2nd Rate Hike in July
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government upgraded its overall economic assessment for the first time in six months, noting consumer spending is supported by wage hikes and temporary income tax credits, but the change in wording is subtle and it continues to say the economy is recovering “moderately.” In its monthly report for August […]
Japan July Export Rise Led by Semiconductors, Autos from US, Asia, Offsetting Slow Shipments to Europe; Trade Deficit Wider Than Expected
–Imports Surge on Drugs, Computers, Crude Oil as Relatively Weak Yen Keeps Costs High–Exports to China Post 8th Straight Y/Y Rise Following Last Year’s Slump–Exports to US Remain Robust; Those to EU Mark 4th Straight Y/Y Decline By Max Sato (MaceNews) –Japanese export values rose 10.3% for the eighth straight year-over-year increase in July, led […]
Japan June Core Machine Orders Post 1st M/M Rise in 3 Months as Computer Demand from Various Industries Remains Solid
–Q2 Core Orders -0.2% Q/Q, Easily Beating -1.6% Official Forecast as Largely Expected–Q3 Core Orders Seen Up Modest 0.2% Q/Q, Indicating Uncertainty over Global Growth; June Core Orders Mark 1st Y/Y Drop in 4 Months–Cabinet Office Keeps View After Last Month’s Downgrade: Pickup in Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese core machinery […]
Preview: Japan Q2 GDP to Post Modest Rebound After Slumping in Q1 but Consumption Remains Sluggish amid High Costs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the April-June quarter is forecast to post a modest rebound after suffering its first contraction in two quarters in January-March, up 0.6% on quarter, or an annualized 2.3%, as consumption and business investment picked up from the drag of suspended output at Toyota group factories […]
US July ISM Manufacturing in Contraction for 4th Straight Month as Soft Demand, Job Cuts Continue, Firms Await Fed Rate Cut
–ISM Manufacturing Index Dips to 46.8 from 48.5 in June, Well Below Median Forecast of 48.8–ISM’s Fiore: Sector in Temporary Trough, Not Diving into New Slump–Fiore: Firms Concerned About Supply Chain Disruptions amid Geopolitical Risks–Fiore: US Election Also Generating Uncertainty Over Future Energy Policy By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity was in contraction […]
Japan June Industrial Production Dip 3.6% on Month, Hit by Renewed Auto Vehicle Output Suspension over Safety Scandal, Giving Up May’s 3.6% Rebound
–METI Survey: Factory Output Likely to Rise 4.0% in July, 0.7% in August— Japan Q2 Core Capital Goods Shipments +0.5% Q/Q Vs. -2.0% in Q1, Indicating Capex Rebound in Q2 GDP–Japan Q2 GDP Forecast to Post Modest 2% Annualized Growth After 2.9% Slump in Q1–METI Keeps View: Output Has Weakened While Taking One Step Forward, […]
Japan Government Keeps Its View on Economic Recovery amid Wage Hikes, Warns of Drag from High US, European Rates, China’s Real-Estate Woes
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy is recovering “moderately” and is likely to stay on course as many firms are raising wages at a higher pace to secure workers and although exports are now largely flat. In its monthly report released Thursday by the Cabinet Office, the […]
Japan May Core Machine Orders Unexpectedly Post 2nd Straight Monthly Drop on Pullback in Computers but Digitization Demand Remains Strong
Japanese capex pulls back