The Nikkei Flash Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, was 52.5 in December, little changed from November’s 52.6, a 20-month high.
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On the index, a reading above 50.0 indicates industry expansion, below indicates contraction. It was forecast to remain unchanged at 54.2.
Eurozone private sector businesses enjoyed their strongest quarter of growth for four-and-a-half years, according to a closely watched survey.
“December data indicated a sharp loss of growth momentum across the USA manufacturing sector”, the report said.
The service PMI inched down by 0.3 points and stood at 53.9 due to weak new business.
Markit’s chief economist Chris Williamson said: “Most encouraging of all is the upturn in the rate of job creation, which will hopefully pave the way for unemployment to start falling in earnest as we move into 2016”.
However, Mr Williamson said policymakers were “likely to remain disappointed by the relatively modest pace of expansion and lack of inflationary pressures”.
While the PMI surveys signaled ongoing solid growth in Germany, rounding off the best quarter in one-and-a-half years, France slowed closer to stagnation. Its flash services PMI was 55.4, a tickle below the expected 55.5.
That was a tad below economists´ median forecast for a reading of 55.0.
That was thanks to a surprise surge in the French manufacturing sector in December.
“French private sector output growth almost ground to a halt at the end of 2015 amid faltering new business intakes”.
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The composite PMI index, which combines services and manufacturing, dipped to 50.3 from 51.0 a month earlier, even though the manufacturing figure reached a 21-month high.
