U.S. healthcare business activity growth accelerates sharply in July

The survey data for July hinted at the most rapid rise in U.S. healthcare business activity since January 2017, showed the latest U.S. Sector PMI data from IHS Markit. Output growth accelerated for the third straight month and was solid on the whole.

For the first time since January, technology was the most rapid growing segment. The pace of growth remained the same from June’s six-month high. In the meantime, the financials and basic materials sectors both saw a sharp and stronger rise in business activity in July. The upturn in the former accelerated to an eight-month high, whereas the latter regained momentum after June’s 25-month low.

On the contrary, the output growth weakened among consumer services companies, with the pace of increase easing to the softest in 2018 so far. However, the latest growth was strong.

Growth in business activity also weakened in the consumer goods and industrials segments. Although the rises in output were solid overall, the paces of growth eased to four-and-three-month lows, respectively.

At 17:00 GMT the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of US Dollar was slightly bullish at 51.6286. For more details on FxWirePro's Currency Strength Index, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex