Japan's manufacturing activity returned to growth in June after nearly a year of contraction, but demand conditions remain murky due to worries over US tariffs and the global economic outlook, a private-sector survey showed on Monday (Jun 23). Meanwhile, the service sector's expansion accelerated, pushing overall business activity to a four-month high, offering a counterbalance to the export-reliant factory sector amid diminished prospects for an early Japan-US trade deal. The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 50.4 from May's final 49.4, ending 11 months of readings ... (full story)