November 6, 2003	Thursday	Ramazan 10, 1424

WASHINGTON, Nov 5: The vast US services sector sped up in October, expanding for the seventh straight month and reflecting a still-lively economic recovery, a survey showed on Wednesday.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of non-manufacturing activity, based on a survey, rose to 64.7 points in October from 63.3 points in September.

Any figure above 50 points indicates expanding activity.

New orders grew at a faster pace, with the index climbing 4.5 points from September to 64.4 in October. Order backlogs grew, albeit at a slower pace, with the index falling 3.0 points to 54.0.

Employers took on new workers, with the index rising 3.8 points to 52.9, the ISM survey showed.

Unemployment figures for October are to be released on Friday.—AFP