Japan's Factory Activity Downturn Eases in April

The Japanese Jibun Bank Manufacturing PMI Index reached 48.7 in April, according to a report released by S&P Global on Thursday. This marks a slight improvement from March's 48.4, yet remains below the neutral 50 threshold, indicating a continued, albeit slower, contraction in the manufacturing sector for the tenth consecutive month.

Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, commented, "Business conditions continued to weaken across Japan's manufacturing industry in April, with firms noting steeper falls in both overall new orders and new export sales."

This data suggests that while the downturn in Japan's manufacturing sector persists, the rate of decline has slightly eased, offering a glimmer of hope for potential stabilization in the coming months.