Factory Growth

The results highlight Asia's darkening economic outlook for 2023, as lockdowns in China disrupt international supply and heighten fears of a further slump in its economy

Unlike some other economies, India has shown better resiliency to persistently-high inflation and a sinking currency against the US dollar since the start of this year

India's factory output expanded at its slowest pace in nine months in June. More on that in our top headlines

A sub-index for output showed production shrank for the third consecutive month and at a faster rate than in September.

Growth in new orders cooled in October, as the index retreated to 51.6 from 52.2. New export orders were 49.9 in October, pointing to a contraction, from 50.2 in September.

The final au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index in Oct rose to 53.2 on a seasonally adjusted basis from 51.5 in the previous month, expanding for the ninth consecutive months.

Asian share markets were in a muted mood on Friday after a volatile week in which sentiment over global growth waxed and waned with every new headline on the Delta variant

China's factory gate prices rose at a slightly slower pace in June, providing some reprieve for businesses though persistently high raw material costs are threatening to undermine economic recovery

Employment and wages rise in factories, but key sectors lose jobs

India's retail inflation had swelled to 5-month high of 3.36 per cent in August on costlier vegetables and fruits