Operating conditions for Japanese manufacturers continued to improve during October, underpinned by solid expansions in output, new orders and employment. However, robust growth across the sector coincided with the lowest level of business confidence in 11 months. On the price front, input cost inflation ticked up fractionally, spurring on firms to increase output charges.

The headline Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) - a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance - edged fractionally down in October to 52.8, from 52.9 in September. Albeit lower, the index reading signalled another solid rate of sector expansion. Business conditions have improved in every month since September 2016.