The Japanese manufacturing sector ended 2020 with operating conditions stabilising in December, marking the end of a 19-month sequence of decline. Following significant disruption caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic earlier in the year, businesses reported production volumes were unchanged on the month for the first time in two years, which brought a halt to 23 consecutive monthly declines in output. Moreover, stable conditions encouraged Japanese manufacturers to increase hiring for the first time in ten months in December. The headline au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ ... (full story)