Japan Service Sector Activity Stabilizes

(RTTNews) - Japan's service sector activity grew for the first time since April in December, albeit at a marginal pace, new survey data showed on Thursday.

The Markit services purchasing managers' index rose to a seasonally adjusted 50.2 from 49.5 in November. A reading above 50 indicates expansion while one below suggests contraction.

Meanwhile, the composite PMI, which is a weighted average of the manufacturing and services PMIs, came in at 49.4 in December, up from 48.7 in November.