Vietnam PMI at 22-Month High

The Nikkei Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to a 22-month high of 54.6 in March from 54.2 in February, VNA reported. According to a Nikkei’s report released on Monday, the Vietnamese manufacturing sector ended the first quarter of the year on a positive note. The strengthening of business conditions was the most marked since May 2015. In addition, Vietnam’s reading remained the highest among ASEAN countries, the report wrote. According to IHS Markit, which compiled the survey, improving client demand led to another sharp rise in new orders during March. The rate of growth in new export orders accelerated and was the fastest this year, so far.