|

US: Markit Manufacturing PMI improves to 53.4 in October vs. 53.3 expected

  • Markit Manufacturing PMI for the US improved modestly in October.
  • US Dollar Index stays in the positive territory above 94.00.

The IHS Markit's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the US edged higher to 53.4 in October from 53.2 in September to show that the economic activity in the manufacturing sector continued to expand at a similar pace. This reading came in slightly better than the flash estimate and the market expectation of 53.3.

Commenting on the data, “with clues being sought as to whether the economy can sustain its recovery after rebounding from lockdowns, the rise in the PMI in October is encouraging news," said Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit. "It’s inevitable that the pace of economic expansion will weaken after the surge seen in the third quarter, but the strength of the PMI hints at a recovery for which the underlying trend continues to strengthen at the start of the fourth quarter."

Market reaction

The US Dollar Index largely ignored this data and was last seen gaining 0.25% on the day at 94.12.

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD nudges higher above 1.3350 despite Middle East turmoil

The GBP/USD pair rebounds to near 1.3385 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. However, the potential upside for the major pair might be limited amid cooler-than-expected UK inflation data and escalating tensions in the Middle East. Traders will take more cues from the UK Retail Sales report, which is due later on Friday. 


EUR/USD advances ahead of ECB policy decision

EUR/USD extends its gains for the second consecutive day, trading around 1.1410 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair gains ground as the Euro finds solid support ahead of the European Central Bank's upcoming interest rate decision.

Gold holds above $4,100 as weak USD counters Fed hike bets amid US-Iran escalation

Gold holds above the $4,100 mark during the Asian session, and seems to have stalled the previous day's modest pullback from an over two-week high. Crude oil prices climb to a fresh high since June 11 amid a further escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, fueling inflation fears and bolstering US Federal Reserve interest rate hike expectations. This lifts US Treasury bond yields to a multi-month high and is seen as a key factor acting as a headwind for the non-yielding bullion.

Hyperliquid, Robinhood could lead crypto’s next bull market as DeFi and TradFi converge

The next crypto bull market could be driven by the growing convergence between blockchain-based financial infrastructure and traditional finance, according to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan. In a report published late Tuesday, Hougan argued that crypto may be showing early signs of a market bottom, with Bitcoin gaining 9% since July 1 even as the NASDAQ 100 declined 6%.

Ripple and Stellar await direction amid cautious sentiment

Ripple and Stellar trade cautiously as both tokens hover around key technical levels. XRP is testing resistance at its 50-day EMA, while XLM continues to consolidate around the $0.187 support zone. Meanwhile, mixed derivatives data with a slight bearish tilt suggests traders remain cautious, keeping the next directional move uncertain.

US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?
The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.