Here's manufacturing sector's 'glimmer of hope' after 2 sluggish months

Manufacturing PMI hits 22-month high.

According to DBS, growth momentum has been sluggish thus far but is expected to pick up in the coming quarters. As it is, the PMIs of key export markets have been inching northward, reflecting an expectation of improving demand in the coming months.

Here's more:

Singapore’s very own manufacturing PMI has also rebounded in March to post a new 22-month high of 50.6. Key electronics indicators are also turning around.

The SEMI book-to-bill ratio is now above parity, essentially reflecting an expansion in the global electronics industry. And the growth in semiconductor sales has also turned positive, after more than 18 months in the red. In short, high frequency data are providing that important glimmer of hope beyond the highly distorted set of figures in the first two months of the year.