By Polya Lesova
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The euro-zone manufacturing sector contracted for the second consecutive month in September, according to data from Markit Economics released Monday. The final Markit euro-zone manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 48.5 in September from 49.0 in August, though it was slightly above the flash estimate of 48.4. A reading below 50 shows that activity is contracting. Only Germany saw its PMI hold above the 50.0 mark, while Greece saw the steepest rate of contraction of all countries covered followed by Spain and Ireland, Markit Economics said.
