WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Conditions for the nation's manufacturers in October improved markedly, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday. The ISM index jumped to 55.7% in October from 52.6% in September. This is well above forecasts. The consensus forecast of estimates collected by MarketWatch was for the index to rise to 53.0%. Readings above 50 indicate expansion. Below the headline, the report, the key employment index improved to 53.1 in October from 46.2 in the prior month.
