• Flash Japan Manufacturing PMI slips to 3-month low of 52.6 in March (53.3 in February).

• Flash Manufacturing Output Index at 53.4 (54.1 in February). Growth eases but remains marked.

• Business confidence softens to four-month low.

Commenting on the Japanese Manufacturing PMI survey data, Paul Smith, Senior Economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, said: "Although signalling a slower rate of expansion during March, the latest PMI data again point to a Japanese manufacturing economy expanding at a decent clip. Indeed, the data are consistent with manufacturing output expanding at an underlying trend rate of just below 2.0%. "New order books remain in solid growth territory, with gains seemingly supported by the weaker yen. However, this comes at the cost of ongoing marked rises in purchase costs: input price inflation remained close to a two-year high in March."