By Jeffry Bartash
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in September for the first time in four months, according to a closely followed index. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing gauge rose to 51.5 last month from 49.6 in August, the highest reading since May. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected the index to tally 49.7. Reading over 50 indicate that more manufacturers are expanding instead of contracting. The ISM had been below 50 for three straight months until the September reading. The ISM's new-orders guage jumped to 52.3 from 47.1 to power the increase in the overall index, while the production index rose to 49.5 from 47.2. Even component of the ISM index advanced.
