The latest manufacturing data "raises question marks over whether we will see a bounce back in the near future"
- Lee Hopley, EEF chief economist
U.K. manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest pace since 2009 in July, showed Markit research agency data on Wednesday. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index slid to 45.4 from 48.4 in June.
"The domestic market shows no real signs of renewed life, while hopes of exports charting the course to calmer currents were hit by our main trading partner, the eurozone, still being embroiled in its long-running political and debt crises," said Rob Dobson, an economist at Markit, a financial information service.
The latest data "raises question marks over whether we will see a bounce back in the near future," said Lee Hopley, EEF chief economist.
The FTSE 100 Index gained 1.38 per cent, or 77.54 points to 5,712.82. The broader FTSE All-Share Index added 1.23 per cent.
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