Mumbai, Feb. 4 -- The seasonally adjusted S&P Global US Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) moved back above the 50.0 no-change mark for the first time in seven months during January. At 51.2, the PMI was up from 49.4 in December, and pointed to a modest improvement in the health of the sector at the start of the year.
The start of the new year saw a renewed expansion in the US manufacturing sector amid a surge in confidence. Both output and new orders returned to growth in January, while optimism in the year-ahead outlook for production hit a 34-month high.
At least part of the jump in confidence and more buoyant demand picture reflected a sense among firms that business conditions will improve under President Trump.
Meanwhil...