Manufacturing activity modestly rebounded in September, the Institute for Supply Management reports. Today’s update of the organization’s widely followed ISM Manufacturing PMI Index reveals that “economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September following three consecutive months of slight contraction.” The index rose to 51.5 last month, up from 49.6 in August. A reading above 50 equates with economic expansion. Overall, it’s a relatively upbeat report and one that surprised many economists.
Daily Archives: October 1, 2012
Major Asset Classes | September 2012 | Performance Review
The capital and commodity markets in general enter the third quarter on a strong note. Nearly all of the major asset classes posted gains in September and everything is comfortably in the black for the year through the end of the third quarter. Looking backward suggests that all’s well. But rearview mirrors can be misleading at times if momentum is set to give way to mean reversion. .