Italy SME indicator rises

(ANSA) - Rome, March 2 - Italy's small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturing index jumped from 49.9 in January to 51.9 in February this year, according to a monthly business survery released Monday by Markit Economics.
    An index number of 50 marks the threshold between expansion and contraction.
    The February result exceeded market expectations of 50.1 and is the highest level since July 2014, Markit said.
    New orders rose from 47.8 in January to 51.2 in February 2015, according to the Markit Economics report.