• Japan Flash Manufacturing PMI falls to 20-month low of 51.6 in July, from 53.0 in June

• Input and output price inflation both accelerate to multi-year highs

• Business confidence dips noticeably

Commenting on the Japanese Manufacturing PMI survey data, Joe Hayes, Economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, said: "Flash survey data pointed to a slowing of growth momentum for Japan's manufacturing sector at the beginning of the third quarter, following a robust performance so far this year. "New business grew at a much weaker rate and was broadly flat, while export demand, despite further yen depreciation, deteriorated for a second month running.

"Slowing demand presents a worrying development given input delivery times lengthened to the sharpest extent in over seven years. Supply chain difficulties reportedly contributed to the fastest rate of input price inflation in since March 2011. Although output prices were raised at a relatively notable pace, the rate of increase was far weaker than that of costs, implying profit margin erosion".