Singapore’s PMI improves in December, in contrast to regional weakness 

SINGAPORE’S manufacturing sentiment improved further in December, even as regional factory activity continued to be dragged down by weak demand.

Singapore’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) inched up to 50.5 in December, a 0.2 point gain from the previous month, according to data released by the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) on Wednesday (Jan 3).

SIPMM executive director Stephen Poh said the latest readings “certainly bode well for the manufacturing sector going into the new year”.