India's factory activity expanded at its fastest pace in seven months in December as a jump in new orders prompted companies to ramp up production, a private business survey showed on Thursday.
Business optimism fell to an almost three-year low, however, as companies worried about challenging market conditions.
The Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index , compiled by IHS Markit, rose to 52.7 in the final month of 2019 from November's 51.2.
The reading was the highest since May. It also remained above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction for a 29th month, the longest since July 2013.
"The uptick in