There are finally signs of life in Japan's manufacturing sector

Yoshikazu Tsuno/ AFP/ Getty Images Activity levels across Japan’s manufacturing sector improved for the first time in seven months in September, albeit by the smallest of margins. The Nikkei-Markit flash manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose by 0.8 points to 50.3 in September, marking the first time since February that the index printed above the 50 level. A figure above 50 points to an expansion in activity levels while a number below that indicates a contraction, so the highe...