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Japan's July factory activity slips, service sector solid, PMI shows
Japan's factory activity contracted slightly in July as output and new orders fell and firms remained under pressure from higher prices, a business survey showed on Wednesday. But the expansion in the service sector helped overall activity in Japan's private sector return to growth in July, the survey found. The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) slipped to 49.2 in July from 50.0 in June. The index fell below the 50.0 threshold separating growth from contraction on a monthly basis for the first time in three months. "Service providers led the expansion and saw activity ... (full story)