S Korea's January factory activity grows at fastest pace in 6 months: PMI

A sub-index on job growth showed employment expanded for a second successive month in January.

South Korea's factory activity grew at the sharpest pace since July last year as output and new order picked up but persistent supply chain woes weighed on the outlook, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday.

The IHS Markit purchasing managers' index (PMI) jumped to 52.8 in January in seasonally adjusted terms from 51.9 in December, remaining above the 50-point mark that indicates expansion in activity for a 16th consecutive month.

New export orders for South Korean manufactured goods returned to expansionary territory of 50.4 from 49.5 in December with improving demand from the United States, Europe and China, in a sign global