The headline ISM Services PMI figure rose to 58.3 in March from 56.5 the month before, a tad lower than the expected rise to 58.4, according to the latest release from the Institute of Supply Management. 

Subindices:

• Business Activity rose slightly to 55.5 from 55.1 in February. 
• Prices Paid rose to 83.8 from 83.1. 
• New Orders rose to 60.1 from 56.1. 
• Employment rose to 54.0 from 48.5. 

Market Reaction

The fairly robust ISM Services PMI survey did not have much of an impact on market sentiment, which was already improving in wake of the US market open at 1430BST.