AI Boom Splits Asia PMI

BeijingChina’s factory gauge rose to 51.5 in August.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index blends a booming AI segment against flat manufacturing.

Japan hit 54.9 and South Korea’s exports rose 68.7%, both driven by chips and AI hardware demand.

A pullback in hyperscaler AI spending would hit these economies as hard as it lifted them.

Sources: Reuters