AsianFin -- Japan’s manufacturing sector contracted again in July after a brief stabilization in June, as subdued demand weighed on production, according to a private sector survey released Friday.

The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped to 48.9 in July from 50.1 in June, falling below the 50.0 mark that separates expansion from contraction. The final reading was largely in line with the earlier flash estimate of 48.8.