MW: Europe stocks rally after U.S. ISM rises above 50
By Sara Sjolin
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- A stronger-than-expected improvement in the U.S. manufacturing sector in September sent European stock markets higher in afternoon action on Monday. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing gauge rose to 51.5 last month from 49.6 in August, the highest reading since May. A reading above 50 indicates expansion instead of contraction. The Stoxx Europe 600 XX:SXXP +1.46% rallied 1.5% to 272.53, after trading up around 1% ahead of the data. France's CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +2.24% jumped 2.3% to 3,433.16, while Germany's DAX 30 index DX:DAX +1.54% gained 1.5% to 7,327.40. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +1.68% added 1.7% to 5,836.72.
