Asia's healthcare sectors recorded the strongest expansions of business activity among 19 detailed sectors covered by the survey in November, according to Markit's Asia Sector PMI. Growth was led by healthcare services, which saw the sharpest expansion of activity since June 2010, followed by pharmaceuticals & biotechnology, where activity growth hit a 20-month high.
Behind healthcare, technology was the second-fastest growing broad sector group in November, with its constituent detailed sectors technology equipment and software & services ranking in third and sixth place respectively in the growth table.
Business activity also rose at a quicker pace across financials as a whole, with both banks and real estate noting quicker rises in activity that offset a marginal reduction in insurance.
November's worst performers were once again the forestry & paper products and metals & mining sectors, which both saw solid reductions in output. Furthermore, activity has declined across both of these sectors in each month since February. Beverages & food also saw lower output in November, for the first time in seven months.