The purchasing managers index (PMI) for manufacturers in Asia's fourth-largest economy, compiled by S&P Global, rose to 52.0 in June, from 51.6 in May, on a seasonally adjusted basis. "Another strong month of data provides further evidence that global industrial activity and trade are picking up," said Joe Hayes, principal economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "Viewed as a bellwether for exports due to its integration in supply chains for key intermediate goods like batteries and semiconductors, South Korean manufacturing output and orders often provide leading signals for trends more broadly."
President Biden's campaign future and French elections are market wildcards. Tesla and Amazon lead stocks in buy zones.
Japan's factory activity stayed unchanged in June, a private-sector survey showed on Monday, amid lacklustre demand and as companies struggled with rising costs due to the weak yen. The final au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) was at 50.0 on the break-even line that separates growth from contraction, after a brief improvement to 50.4 in May. Among key subindexes, output improved to a 13-month high with firms clearing back-orders and building inventory, but new orders stayed in contraction given sluggish demand, especially in auto and semiconductor sectors, the survey showed.