Japan's manufacturing sector almost grew in August

Activity levels across Japan’s massive manufacturing sector continued to decline in August, albeit at the slowest pace seen in six months. The latest Nikkei-Markit “flash” manufacturing purchasing mangers index (PMI) came in at 49.6 for the month, a slight improvement on the 49.3 final reading offered for July. The PMI measures changes in activity levels from one month to the next. A reading above 50 signals that activity levels are expanding while a reading below this level signals a cont...