manufactured goods reversed six consecutive months of declines, posting a 1.8 - percent gain in February.
VOA: standard.2009.04.02
Orders for capex goods rose last quarter, the article said, with spending on non-defense capital goodsposting their largest jump in 15 months at 16.7%.
French luxury-goods company Hermes International bucked the trend, adding 2.3% after posting a 41% rise in net profit for 2011 and saying it will continue to invest in its production and distribution network over 2012.