ISM survey climbs to 50.7% in December from 49.5%

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
U.S. manufacturers expanded their business in December after contracting slightly in November, according to the closely followed ISM index
The Institute for Supply Management index rose to 50.7% from 49.5% in November
Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected the index to climbe to 50.5%
Reading over 50 indicate more manufacturers are expanding instead of contracting
The ISM's new-orders gauge was flat at 50.3% and the production index fell 1.1 points to 52.6%
The employment gauge, however, climbed 4.3 points to 52.7% to boost the overall ISM index
That's the highest employment reading since September