Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan’s manufacturing sector showed stronger-than-expected recovery in June, with the au Jibun Bank Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) climbing to 50.4—beating forecasts of 49.5 and rebounding from 49.4 in May. This marks the first time since May 2024 that the index entered expansion territory, as any reading above 50 signals growth.
The improved PMI was largely driven by renewed increases in output and inventory levels, according to au Jibun analysts. While overall demand remained subdued, the data showed encouraging signs of recovery in new orders, even as Japanese manufacturers continued to face pressure from recent U.S. trade tariffs—especially in the auto sector.
Japan’s services sector also remained in expansion, with the services PMI rising to 51.5 in June from 51.0 in May. The continued strength in services is supported by solid domestic demand, which has held firm following substantial wage increases earlier this year.
These improvements pushed the au Jibun flash composite output index—a combined gauge of manufacturing and services activity—to 51.4 in June, up from 50.2 the previous month. The composite reading suggests that overall business activity in Japan is gaining momentum despite external trade headwinds.
Monday’s PMI release points to a cautious but notable economic recovery in Japan, with manufacturers showing resilience and service providers benefiting from robust local consumption. As global trade tensions persist, Japan’s ability to sustain this growth may hinge on domestic strength and continued policy support. Investors and economists alike will closely watch upcoming data to assess whether June’s uptick signals a sustained turning point for the world’s third-largest economy.
