ECONODAY: Understandable slowing in new orders and business activity, which have been extraordinarily strong in the two prior reports, pulled down ISM's non-manufacturing index to a still very solid 56.9 in September. One component, however, that did not slow and which, had it been released last week, would have sent the wrong signal for the employment report is a 2.3 point jump in the employment index to 58.3. This, together with July's 59.6, are some of the strongest readings in the 18-year history of this series and a puzzle given softness in the government's payroll data...
