KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Malaysian manufacturers noted improved operating conditions for the second successive month in November. IHS Markit said both production levels and new orders expanded further, with the former increasing at the fastest pace for seven months. It said as demand improved, firms noted that pressure on capacity also intensified, which led to employment levels returning to expansion territory, albeit only marginally, for the first time since March. The headline IHS Markit Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) — a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance — edged up from 52.2 in October to 52.3 in November. Some firms noted that while delays had hindered restocking efforts, additional stockpiles were procured to protect against disruption.

Source: The Edge Markets December 01, 2021 07:26 UTC