China PMI, Japan Tankan, South Korea trade [Video]

Asia-Pacific markets started the second half of the year mixed as investors assessed June business activity data from China as well as Japan’s business confidence readings.

China released its official PMI figures on the weekend, with its manufacturing PMI coming in at 49.5, unchanged from May and marking its second straight month in contraction territory.

A private survey of manufacturing activity, however, diverged from the official numbers, showing the sharpest improvement in business conditions in three years. The S&P Caixin PMI climbed to 51.8 in June compared with 51.7 in May.

Confidence among big Japanese manufacturersimproved in the second quarter, with the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey at +13 compared to +11 in the first quarter. Economists polled by Reuters had expected it to be at …