The German manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index (PMI) for September rose to 51.0 from 48.7 in August, according to market sources. Economists polled by AFX News had forecast a rise to 49.9 in August. A reading above 50 indicates that the manufacturing sector is generally expanding, while a reading below 50 suggests it is generally contracting. The index is based on a questionnaire sent to purchasing executives in more than 1,500 companies.