Chart of the Day: Singapore PMI's up 0.5 point to 49.8

Thanks to higher factory output and employment.

For the month of August, Singapore Purchasing Managers' Index posted a slight 0.5 point increase from the previous month's 49.3.

The improvement in the reading was due to higher orders and new exports, as well as higher factory output and employment, according to Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management's latest report.

However, the report also noted that both the manufacturing inventory and finished goods recorded a slower rate of expansion.

"The imports index recorded a slower rate of expansion albeit the index now recorded expansion readings for 16 months. Input price index reverted to a marginal expansion after recording 14 months of contraction readings," the report stated.

More so, the report also noted that the manufacturing employment remained lacklustre and the index continued to post contraction readings since November 2014.