U.S. Manufacturing Activity Expanded in JanuaryLIVE[Dow Rises to Begin February]Last Updated:---8 min ago# U.S. Manufacturing Activity Expanded in JanuaryBy[Al Root]The U.S. manufacturing economy surprised investors on Monday with something they've long waited for: Growth.The Institute for Supply Management's Purchasing Managers Index, or PMI, rose to 52.6 in January, up from 47.9 for December. Economists surveyed by FactSet expected a reading of 48.9, so things were better than expected.A reading above 50 ...