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Key Takeaways Singapore's manufacturing PMI climbed to 51.3 , its highest level since  2018 , driven by strong AI-related semiconductor demand. Technology funding surged to S$3.78 billion in June , signalling growing investor confidence in Singapore's AI ecosystem. Wall Street's AI rally continued , providing a supportive backdrop for Singapore's technology and manufacturing sectors. AI is expanding beyond chipmaking , with nationwide workforce upskilling initiatives accelerating digital transformation. Singapore is emerging as a key beneficiary of the global AI investment cycle , supported by manufacturing, capital inflows and innovation. Market Insight While much of the world's attention remains on AI giants such as  NVIDIA ,  Microsoft  and  OpenAI , another beneficiary is quietly emerging —  Singapore . Recent economic data suggests the city-state is becoming one of Asia's biggest winners from the global artificial intelligence boom. From semiconductor ...

  Malaysia’s manufacturing sector slipped back into contraction in February, while global markets reacted to escalating tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Key Takeaways Wall Street volatile after US–Israel strike on Iran Bursa Malaysia slumps with over 1,000 stocks in the red Malaysia PMI falls to 49.3, back below 50 contraction line Stocks in focus: Optimax, Dagang NeXchange, OMH and others US Market Recap: Oil and Gold Surge on Geopolitical Tensions Nasdaq Composite  rose 0.36% to 22,748.86 S&P 500 Index  ed ged up 0.04% to 6,881.62 Dow Jones Industrial Average   slipped 0.15% to 48,904.78 Markets initially dropped after US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes targeting Iran’s alleged nuclear and missile facilities. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel and US-linked targets in the region. Oil prices jumped as much as 12% before easing: West Texas Intermediate crude traded at US$72.54 per barrel. Safe-haven...

China’s factory sector extended its decline in October, marking the  longest manufacturing slump in nearly a decade  as economic headwinds deepen in the year’s final quarter. Manufacturing Weakens Further The  official manufacturing PMI fell to 49  in October from  49.8  in September — below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. This also missed economists’ expectations of  49.6 , according to Bloomberg. The  non-manufacturing PMI , covering construction and services, edged up slightly to  50.1 , suggesting only marginal improvement outside the factory floor. Analysts attributed part of the weakness to the  extended eight-day national holiday , which reduced working days. “Manufacturing firms’ production and market demand both fell,” said Huo Lihui, a statistician at the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Trade Relief Offers Only Temporary Boost The decline came just as  US President Donald Trump  and  Pres...

Cautious Gains Across Asia Asian shares moved higher on Tuesday while gold climbed to another record, as investors weighed the growing risk of a US government shutdown that could delay key economic data. The  MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index  rose 0.5%, putting it on track for a  5.6% monthly gain — its best in a year . Japan’s  Nikkei slipped 0.3% , extending a three-day decline, while traders looked ahead to political developments at home. China’s  PMI remained in contraction  at 49.8 in September, signaling continued weakness in manufacturing, though slightly better than August’s 49.4 reading. Shutdown Clouds Fed Outlook US Vice President  JD Vance  warned that the government appeared “headed to a shutdown” as talks between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders stalled. A closure would halt the release of this week’s crucial employment report, leaving only partial indicators such as the  JOLTS job openings data  due later Tues...

中国7月官方制造业采购经理指数（PMI）意外下滑至  49.3 （6月为  49.7 ），创三个月新低，低于经济学家预期的  49.7 ，显示尽管中美近期达成关税停火协议，制造业仍处于收缩区间，引发对经济动能可持续性的担忧。 关键数据 制造业PMI ：49.3（6月：49.7；预期：49.7） 非制造业PMI ：50.1（6月：50.5；预期：50.2） 建筑投入价格指数 ：54.5（6月：48.3），受钢材与建筑材料成本上升推动 市场反应 沪深300指数 ：数据公布后下跌约 1% 国债期货 ：上涨，投资者寻求避险资产 放缓背后的原因 出口走弱 ：尽管部分出口商提前出货以应对关税，但整体出货量开始显现疲态 内需不振 ：消费支出持续低迷，市场信心不足 季节性与天气干扰 ：国家统计局指出，高温、暴雨与洪水在7月“传统淡季”进一步影响生产 宏观影响 港口货物吞吐量环比下降近  7% ，显示贸易动能可能走软 尽管铁矿石与煤炭价格因政策预期及基建需求（包括西藏1.2万亿元水电项目）上涨，但通缩风险仍在 最新央行调查显示，中国家庭对就业市场的信心创下新低 展望 尽管上半年经济增速已超额完成全年  5% 左右  的目标，但 PMI 的收缩为 2025 年下

China’s factory activity unexpectedly deteriorated in July, with the official manufacturing PMI dropping to  49.3  from June’s 49.7, marking its weakest reading in three months and signaling a contraction despite the recent tariff truce with the US. The figure missed economists’ median forecast of 49.7, raising fresh concerns over the durability of the country’s economic momentum. Key Data: Manufacturing PMI:  49.3 (vs. 49.7 in June; est. 49.7) Non-Manufacturing PMI:  50.1 (vs. 50.5; est. 50.2) Construction Input Prices:  54.5 (vs. 48.3), driven by rising steel and building material costs. Market Reaction: CSI 300 Index:  Down ~1% after the release. China Government Bonds:  Futures rose as investors sought safety. Drivers Behind the Slowdown: Weak Exports:  Early signs that shipments are slowing despite front-loading ahead of tariffs. Soft Domestic Demand:  Consumer spending remains tepid amid persistent uncertainty. Seasonal & Weather Di...

Key Takeaway: China’s manufacturing sector showed signs of stabilization in June, driven by improved domestic demand following the  temporary US-China tariff truce . The latest  Caixin PMI print of 50.4  beat expectations and marked the first return to expansion territory in three months. What You Need to Know: Caixin Manufacturing PMI (June): Actual:  50.4 Forecast:  49.3 Prior:  48.3 First post-truce reading; signals moderate recovery in private manufacturing activity. Survey Details: Conducted by  Caixin and S&P Global , this index focuses on  small- and medium-sized, export-driven firms . Contrasts with the  official PMI , which remains below 50, reflecting persistent caution in larger SOEs. Macro Context: In  mid-May , Beijing and Washington agreed to a  90-day reduction in tariffs , reviving trade flows. Supply chains showed improvement, while domestic demand picked up — though  external demand remains weak . Economis...

 根据 MIDF Amanah投资银行（MIDF Research） 数据，马来西亚制造业采购经理指数（PMI）降至 49.2 ，为七个月以来的最低水平。这标志着该行业连续第六个月陷入萎缩。 主要亮点 行业疲弱 新订单： 创七个月以来的最大降幅，反映出国内需求疲软。 产量与库存： 进一步下降，显示出普遍存在的挑战。 未完成工作量： 因生产能力受限而趋于稳定，达四个月高点。 出口与供应链趋势 出口订单： 出现增长，可能受亚太地区需求上升推动。 供应链中断： 连续第七个月受阻，红海危机加剧了交货时间的延长问题。 成本压力 大宗商品价格上涨 和 令吉疲软 推高了成本，但投入价格通胀降至九个月低点。 就业与商业信心 就业水平： 尽管面临挑战，但仍保持稳定。 商业信心： 保持稳健，但低于长期平均水平，反映出对国内需求复苏的谨慎态度。 行业前景 疲软的国内需求： 持续拖累整体表现。 外部需求： 出口订单的改善带来一线希望，区域需求上升为行业提供了一定支持。 乐观的复苏预期： 分析人士预计，随着出口需求的增强，生产活动将逐步回升。 分析师观点 马来西亚制造业正应对一系列国内外压力，包括： 疲弱的本地需求。 高企的原材料价格。 全球供应链中断。 然而， 出口需求的复苏 可能在一定程度上缓解这些阻力，为未来数月的逐步改善带来希望。制造商在适应持续的不确定性时，表现出谨慎但仍具韧性。

The Malaysian manufacturing sector recorded its sixth consecutive month of contraction , with the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI falling to 49.2 , the lowest reading in seven months, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd (MIDF Research) . Key Highlights Sector Weaknesses New Orders : Experienced the sharpest decline in seven months , reflecting weak domestic demand. Output and Inventory Levels : Declined further, indicating broad-based challenges. Backlogs of Work : Stabilized, reaching a four-month high , due to limited production capacity. Export and Supply Chain Trends Export Orders : Showed growth, likely driven by rising demand in the Asia-Pacific region . Supply Chain Disruptions : Persisted for the seventh consecutive month , worsened by the Red Sea crisis , causing longer delivery times. Cost Pressures Higher Commodity Prices and the weaker ringgit drove up costs, though input price inflation eased to a nine-month low. Employment and Business Confidence Employment...

The eurozone's private sector failed to grow for the second consecutive month in October, as Germany and France — the bloc’s two largest economies — weighed on overall output, with no clear signs of recovery. The composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) , published by S&P Global, edged up slightly to 49.7 in October , from 49.6 in September, remaining below the 50 threshold that indicates contraction. This reading aligns with analysts' expectations and highlights ongoing concerns about the eurozone's economic health. Germany’s economy showed a slight improvement in its PMI, but continued struggles in France dragged down the overall region. German industrial giants are grappling with higher energy costs and reduced demand from China , while France's composite PMI slipped further to 47.3 , indicating worsening conditions. Despite small gains in the services sector, the eurozone remains stuck, with manufacturing output continuing to slump. Economists are ...

Malaysia's manufacturing sector experienced further easing in September, with production levels moderating and new order growth remaining tepid, according to the latest report from S&P Global . The seasonally-adjusted Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 49.5 in September, down from 49.7 in August. A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 signifies contraction. Usamah Bhatti, an economist at S&P Global, noted that economic growth in the third quarter has continued along a trajectory similar to that observed in the second quarter. “Sentiment stayed positive, with firms expecting higher output in the coming year,” he stated. Economic Context and Factory Activity Trends Malaysia's economy accelerated with a 5.9% growth in the second quarter compared to the previous year, driven by stronger household spending, business investments, and exports. However, factory activity has now declined for the ...

The US manufacturing sector showed a slight improvement in August, with the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 47.2 from an eight-month low of 46.8 in July. Despite this uptick, the overall trend remains subdued, reflecting continued contraction in the sector. Key Insights from the ISM Manufacturing Report: Continued Contraction in Manufacturing : The PMI reading remained below the 50 threshold for the fifth consecutive month, signaling contraction in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for 10.3% of the US economy. However, the index stayed above the 42.5 level, which the ISM associates with expansion in the overall economy over time. Decline in New Orders and Production : The forward-looking new orders sub-index fell to 44.6 in August from 47.4 in July, indicating weaker demand. Additionally, the production sub-index dropped to 44.8 from 45.9, reflecting a further decline in output. This suggests that the sector is s...

Manufacturing activity in the euro zone remained deep in contraction territory in August, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) registering 45.8, slightly above the preliminary estimate of 45.6 but well below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. The latest data indicates that the sector is experiencing significant challenges, with demand dropping at its steepest pace this year, suggesting that a recovery remains distant. Key Takeaways: Manufacturing Contraction Continues : The euro zone's manufacturing sector remains in a prolonged downturn, with the PMI staying below the growth threshold for several months. Output also saw little improvement, nudging up to 45.8 from 45.6 in July. The sector has been in recession for 26 consecutive months, reflecting deteriorating business conditions. Sharp Decline in Demand : New orders dropped to 43.3 in August, down from 44.1 in July, reaching their lowest level since December. Both domestic and international demand slowed...