China imposes massive fine on Japanese car parts manufacturers for price fixing August 20, 2014 China yesterday announced that it had fined Japanese car parts makers a record 1.235bn yuan (£121m) for manipulating prices. The punishment is part of Beijing’s move to enforce an anti-trust law that has targeted major corporations and revived protectionism concerns. The fines, the largest so far meted out by the pricing regulator, the National Development [...]
UK’s industrial firms named as regional stars of world’s manufacturing sector August 18, 2014 UK factories are in a sweet spot, according to a report on global industrial conditions released this morning, with companies re-shoring to an increasingly competitive UK manufacturing sector. The Boston Consulting Group released research on the state of the world’s manufacturing sector this morning, calling the UK a “rising regional star”. The authors also say [...]
From manufacturing to space farming: Meet Baxter, the multi purpose robot July 24, 2014 Baxter was originally designed as an industrial robot for working alongside humans on factory floors, excelling at fast, repetitive manufacturing tasks. Each with its own pair of chunky robot arms connected to a computer brain, hundreds of Baxters are already busily working away in factories and packing stations across the US. First launched [...]
Asian stocks rise as Chinese manufacturing shows strongest growth since January 2013 July 24, 2014 Manufacturing data for China is looking rosy as factory activity shot up at the fastest pace in 18 months. According to a preliminary report by HSBC and Markit, which provides a flash measure of manufacturing, the purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 52 in July from 50.7 in June, beating a Reuter's poll forecast of [...]
Strong manufacturing survey allays fears over output slowdown July 22, 2014 While the headline reading of the latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) manufacturing survey looks weak, analysts are convinced that it paints a glowing picture of the UK's manufacturing sector. After official estimates showed manufacturing output took a tumble in May, economy watchers have voiced concerns that the roaring expansion in the sector may be [...]
Shock fall: UK manufacturing production drops in May July 8, 2014 UK output looks to be taking a tumble, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Industrial and manufacturing production both dropped in May, down by 0.7 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively. The picture is a little confusing for economy watchers. The news follows survey data suggesting we'd see strong [...]
UK manufacturers’ optimism hit by rising costs July 7, 2014 Optimism among UK manufacturers dipped in June for the first time in 14 months, as challenging operating conditions threaten to slow confidence growth in the sector, according to a survey released today by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP. The BDO optimism sub-index for the manufacturing sector, which predicts growth expectations in six months’ time, [...]
Asian manufacturing firms bouncing back after spring slump July 1, 2014 Two of Asia’s largest manufacturing sectors indicated more robust growth in June, with businesses in both China and Japan reporting an improved expansion last month. Data from Nomura and JMMA suggest that Japan’s manufacturing firms are bouncing back from their decline around April’s sales tax hike, with a purchasing managers’ index (PMI) score of 51.5. [...]
Eurozone manufacturing sectors show slow growth July 1, 2014 The Eurozone’s industrial growth slowed for a second month in June, according to a series of business surveys which suggested the currency union was still expanding only at a weak pace. Markit’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) released yesterday came in at just 51.8 in June, the lowest of 2014 so far. New business inflows [...]
UK manufacturing growth moves up a gear with job creation at 39-month high July 1, 2014 The UK's manufacturing sector is growing faster than we thought. The latest figures from Markit see June's headline purchasing managers' index (PMI) revised up from an initial reading of 57 to a final estimate of 57.5. Any number above 50 implies growth, and figures in the region we're seeing now suggest the sector is enjoying [...]