U.S. manufacturing grew in September for the first time in four months, reports Yahoo! News:
The Institute for Supply Management said its index of national factory activity rose to 51.5 from 49.6 in August, topping expectations in a Reuters poll for 49.7.
It was the first time since May that the index has been above the 50 threshold that indicates expansion in the sector.
The forward-looking new orders gauge also rose to its highest level since May at 52.3 from 47.1, while employment gained to 54.7 from 51.6.