The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index sank to 48.1% in November from 48.3% in October. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast the index to total 49.2%.

Readings below 50% indicate business conditions are getting worse.

The indexes measuring new orders and employment both weakened in November.

“Global trade remains the most significant cross-industry issue,” said Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM's manufacturing business survey committee.

Weak export growth and caution among business leaders is hitting the manufacturing sector hard. There had been hope that manufacturing was stabilizing but today’s data throws that theory into questions.

Stocks turned negative after the ISM report with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 132 points and the S&P 500 Index down 10 points in early morning trading.

Source : Marketwatch