The business activity in the US manufacturing sector continued to contract at an accelerating pace in October, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI falling to 46.5 from 47.2 in September. This reading came in below the market expectation of 47.6. The Employment Index of the PMI survey edged slightly higher to 44.4 from 43.9 in the same period and the Prices Paid Index rose sharply to 54.8 from 48.3. Finally, the New Orders Index improved to 47.1 from 46.1. Source: Fxstreet
Economic activity in the US services sector accelerated in October, with the ISM Services PMI rising to 56 from 54.9 in September. This was higher than the market forecast of 53.8. Other details from the report showed that the Prices Paid Index, a component of inflation, edged down to 58.1 from 59.4, while the Employment Index improved to 53 from 48.1. Assessing the survey findings, "concerns over political uncertainty were again more prominent than in the previous month," said Steve Miller, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) Services Business Survey Committee. "The...