
WASHINGTON(Reuters)-FactoryactivitygrewthemostinnearlytwoyearsinJanuaryandthenumberofnewclaimsforjoblessbenefitsdroppedtoafive-yearlowlastweek,givingsurprisinglystrongsignalsontheeconomy'spulse.FinancialinformationfirmMarkitonThursdaysaiditspreliminaryPurchasingManagersIndexformanufacturingroseto56.1thismonth,itsbestshowingsinceMarch2011.Areadingabove50indicatesexpansion.Asep...