More data from Sth Korea: December PMI improved but still in contraction

I posted earlier on ICYMI - South Korea's exports fell in December (implications for global growth)

Nikkei/Markit purchasing managers' index (PMI) 49.8 in December

• 48.6 in November

Sub measures:

• New export orders fell for a fifth consecutive month
• Employment 49.8 (lowest in five months, was 49.9 in November)
• Business confidence rebounded to a six-month high

Joe Hayes, an economist at IHS Markit

• "Order book volumes continued to deteriorate, prompting production cutbacks and stagnating employment"

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Slowing performance from SK is being blamed on the repurcussions of the trade war and slowing global demand.

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Next up we get China PMI:

• Ahead of the China manufacturing PMI data today, a recap of the one we got already