ISM reading picks up in September to 51.6% (by Steve Goldstein)
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index picked up a bit in September, rising to 51.6% from a 50.6% reading in August. Economists polled by MarketWatch had anticipated an unchanged reading. Of key components, the new orders reading stayed at 49.6%, production rose 2.6 points to 51.2% and employment rose 2 points to 53.8%.
