Empire State index accelerates in July

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
The Empire State manufacturing survey rose in July for the second month and has now been in positive territory for five of the last six months, the New York Fed said
The general business conditions index rose to 9.5 from 7.8 in June, and components measuring new orders and shipments turned positive
Economists polled by MarketWatch expected a 5.9 reading
The index measuring expectations for six months ahead rose to 32 from 25 in June
The Empire State index is the first of the regional manufacturing reports to be released
In a special question on the impact of the Affordable Care Act, 9.8% of respondents said they would make health care more comprehensive, while 10.9% said they were cutting back or dropping health insurance