亚洲多国制造业被美国关税拖累：不确定性导致新订单大幅下降

Group 1 - South Korea's manufacturing activity has contracted for the fourth consecutive month in May, with the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slightly rising to 47.7 from 47.5 in April, remaining below the neutral level of 50, indicating ongoing contraction in the sector [1] - The contraction in South Korea's manufacturing is attributed to weak domestic demand and the impact of increased U.S. trade tariffs, with new orders experiencing the largest decline since June 2020 and factory output decreasing at the fastest rate in two and a half years [1] - The Bank of Korea has initiated its fourth rate cut in the current easing cycle, lowering the economic growth forecast for the year from 1.5% to 0.8%, reflecting the pressures from weak domestic consumption and the adverse effects of U.S. tariff policies on exports [2] Group 2 - The economic outlook for South Korea is becoming increasingly pessimistic, with global investment banks predicting growth expectations below 1%, and the average growth rate forecast dropping to the 0.9% range within four weeks [2] - Manufacturing activity across much of Asia has slowed due to uncertainties surrounding U.S. tariffs, with Japan's manufacturing PMI at 49.4 in May, indicating continued contraction for the 11th month, and Japan's GDP declining by 0.2% in the first quarter [2] - Despite the challenges, there are cautious signs of optimism regarding economic prospects, with some recovery in hiring activities in South Korea and Japan, as manufacturers anticipate improvements in global demand [3]