Jan 4, 2009 04:00
Factories from India to Europe, the United States and China slashed output and jobs in December, but investors seemed determined on Friday to start the new year on a positive note, pushing stocks higher. US factory activity fell to a 28-year low in December, according to a report from the Institute for Supply Management showing a contraction that was more severe than expected. The ISM index of US national factory activity fell to the lowest since 1980 amid mounting evidence that demand is ...