SINGAPORE, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Singapore's manufacturing

activity improved slightly in November but still contracted for

a fifth consecutive month as new orders and production output

shrank further, a business survey showed, mirroring a tepid

recovery globally.

Singapore's Purchasing Manager's index (PMI) rose to 48.8

points last month from 48.3 in October, the Singapore Institute

of Purchasing & Materials Management (SIPMM) said on Tuesday.

A PMI reading below 50 shows activity is contracting.

A separate PMI for Singapore's electronics sector showed

activity weakened marginally to 47.4 in November from 47.5 in

October.

'The overall employment index recorded a contraction for the

17th (consecutive) time,' the SIPMM said in a statement. 'The

electronics sector employment index edged up 0.8 point to record

a contraction at 49.6.'

The global manufacturing sector's slump eased in November as

output rose for the first time in five months, JPMorgan's Global

Manufacturing PMI survey showed on Monday.

That survey, published along with financial data firm

Markit, showed global PMI rose to 49.7 in November from 48.8 in

October - the best reading since June but still below the key 50

mark.

Chinese manufacturing output grew last month for the first

time in 13 months but a contraction in U.S. factory activity

kept optimism about the health of the world economy in check.

Surveys also showed the euro zone's manufacturing sector

shrank for a 16th straight month in November but a bit less

rapidly than in October.

In mid-November, Singapore cut its economic growth forecast

for this year to around 1.5 percent and warned of a subdued 2013

with growth of 1-3 percent due to risks from the U.S. fiscal

cutback and the eurozone crisis.

The wealthy city-state, a major Asian business centre whose

trade is three times the size of its economy, has been hit by

problems in the West that have hurt financial services and

demand for its exports.

SINGAPORE OVERALL PMI

Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan

48.8 48.3 48.7 49.1 49.8 50.4 50.4 49.7 50.2 50.4 48.7

Electronics Index

47.4 47.5 50.0 50.7 49.2 50.4 50.8 51.5 51.5 51.0 50.5

New Export Orders Index

48.5 48.0 49.4 50.4 50.2 51.1 50.8 51.3 51.0 50.5 49.0

CONTEXT:

- Singapore's PMI is produced ahead of government data on

manufacturing and exports.

- Economists say the PMI does not appear to track activity

at pharmaceutical companies, which make up Singapore's

fastest-growing manufacturing sector.

- For more PMI reports from around the world, see

(Reporting by John O'Callaghan; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Keywords: SINGAPORE ECONOMY/PMI

(john.ocallaghan@thomsonreuters.com)(+65 6403 5657)(Reuters Messaging: john.ocallaghan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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