Investing.com - Manufacturing activity in the U.K. unexpectedly increased in September hitting an 11-month high, industry data showed on Monday.
In a report, market research group Markit said that its U.K. manufacturing PMI jumped to a seasonally adjusted 55.4 last month from a reading of 53.3 in August.
That was its highest level since October 2015.
Analysts had expected the index to drop to only 52.1 in August.
On the index, a reading above 50.0 indicates industry expansion, below indicates contraction.
Immediately after the report, GBP/USD was trading at 1.2864 from around 1.2856 ahead of the release of the data, EUR/GBP was at 0.8732 compared to 0.8738 prior to the report, and GBP/JPY traded at 130.38 compared to 130.43 earlier.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were trading higher. London’s FTSE 100 rose 1.13%, the Euro Stoxx 50 gained 0.44%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.35%, while Germany's stock market was closed for a holiday.
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