Business activity is picking up across South-east Asia, as governments in the region lift or relax various restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19. The S&P Global Asean Manufacturing PMI hit an 11-month high in September, as manufacturing conditions improved at their quickest pace in nearly a year. A report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, released last month, said: "Companies signalled steeper increases in output, new orders, purchasing activity and employment, while business confidence remained historically strong."