US ISM index declines less than expected in August

The Institute for Supply Management said its services index slipped less-than-expected in August.
The service index fell from 60.3% to 59% last month, remaining above the 58% analysts had expected and comfortably above the 50% threshold that indicates improving conditions in the market.

 "On balance, we read the better-than-expected ISM nonmanufacturing survey in August as indicative of continued service sector strength in the third quarter, " analysts at Barclays said in a note.