China’s factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in ten years as the world’s second-largest economy recorded higher output and new orders in November. Data released Tuesday showed manufacturing firms in China responded to an improvement in domestic demand, as growth in new export work was not as pronounced. China’s […]

IHS Markit’s gauge of US business activity rose to 55.5 in October from 54.3, signalling the fastest pace of growth since February 2019. Service-industry activity gained to 56 from 54.6, while manufacturing activity improved slightly to 53.3 from 53.2. Readings above 50 indicate industry growth, while those below the threshold […]

Manufacturing activity in China rose in the month of September. The official China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 51.5 in September, from 51 in August. A Reuters poll of economists showed expectations for a reading of 51.2 Manufacturing activity remained strong ahead of the week-long Golden Week national […]

IHS Markit’s US Composite Output Index sank to 54.4 in September from 54.6, signalling the nation’s economic recovery continued into the fall, albeit at a slowing pace. The research firm’s services purchasing managers’ index weakened to 54.6 from 55, according to a Wednesday report. Its manufacturing gauge edged higher to […]

Business activity in the eurozone avoided stagnation in September, as German factories expanded activity to meet export demand, despite a resurgence in cases of COVID-19. French business activity fell to a four-month-low as the country struggled to contain an outbreak of new infections in recent weeks. The UK also lost […]

Some European economies are picking up from coronavirus-led recessions earlier in the year as they loosen lockdown restrictions and reopen businesses, a set of business surveys showed. IHS Markit’s Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index showed significant improvements in both manufacturing and service sectors in July for the UK, France, Germany, and […]

IHS Markit’s flash US purchasing managers index jumped to 46.8 in June, from 37 in May, the company reported Tuesday. It’s the highest the index has reached since the coronavirus crisis hit the US. Still, any reading of less than 50 signals a contraction. “The improvement will fuel hopes that […]

Europe’s major economies continued to bounce back from their coronavirus driven slump in June, according to a widely-watched set of business surveys. IHS Markit’s Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) posted better than expected readings for the Eurozone, the UK, France, and Germany. France even registered an expansion in activity. The […]

The Australian economy has ticked back to growth for the first time since shutdown, according to the Commonwealth Bank’s Flash PMI. The growth was largely attributed to the services sector as business reopen and Australians rush back to hair, beauty and massage parlours. Separate spending figures indicate pent up demand […]

The US manufacturing industry ended a four-month decline and began to stabilise in May, the Institute for Supply Management’s latest survey showed Monday. The ISM’s purchasing managers’ index ticked higher to 43.1 last month from 41.5, remaining in contraction territory but climbing off an 11-year low. Six manufacturing sectors grew […]

China’s manufacturing output expanded the most in nine years in May, according to IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers Index data released on Monday. However, Chinese government data showed a slight contraction in manufacturing activity between April and May. The IHS Markit data focuses on small- and medium-sized enterprises, while the National […]

Europe’s economic slump has “likely bottomed out” and is bouncing back, according to a set of closely watched business surveys released Thursday. IHS Markit’s Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) posted an improved reading of 30.5 in May, up from 13.6 in April. The UK’s Composite Index came in at […]

Global stocks slipped into the red on Thursday after President Trump accused China of a “disinformation and propaganda attack” that “comes from the top.” “That comes dangerously close to finger pointing at Xi Jinping, something Trump has so far not done and which may be a bridge that can only […]

The eurozone’s private sector economy nosedived in April, with surveys from the region’s four largest powers shrinking to record lows far worse than those seen during the 2008 financial crisis. Reflecting the impact of ongoing restrictions to non-essential economic activities across the euro-region, both service and manufacturing activity levels contracted […]

India’s economy descended to a new low in April with its service industry activity tanking to a level far worse than any observed measure since records began 15 years ago, according to IHS Markit’s index released Wednesday. IHS Markit’s India Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the service sector posted a […]

US factory production plummeted in April to its lowest level on record going back to 1948, according to a Friday report from the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM’s production index fell more than 20 percentage points to 27.5 in April. Any reading below 50 signals a contraction. The April […]

Italy’s services activity contracted sharply in March, signalling the national lockdown is hammering the nation’s economy. IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the services sector shrank from 52.1 in February to just 17.4 in March, a record 34.7 point slide. The services downturn reflects emergency measures and shutdowns intended […]