US firms add more jobs than expected

US companies added more jobs than expected in July, suggesting the labour market is chugging along, though the pace of growth is far from robust.

Separate data showed the manufacturing sector grew at its slowest pace in nearly three years last month as a debt crisis in Europe and economic and political uncertainty at home dented demand.

The ADP National Employment Report showed private employers created 163,000 jobs in July, more than the 120,000 that had been expected, though slightly less than June's 172,000. June was originally reported as 176,000.

"The US continues to have consistently positive private sector payroll growth, albeit at a painfully slow rate," said Eric Stein, VP and portfolio manager at Eaton Vance Management in Boston.

The ADP figures come ahead of the government's much more comprehensive labour market report on Friday, which includes both public and private sector employment.

That report is expected to show nonfarm payrolls rose by a modest 100,000 last month, while the unemployment rate is seen staying the same at 8.2 per cent.

Economists often refer to the ADP report to fine-tune their expectations for the payrolls numbers, though it is not always accurate in predicting the outcome.

The ADP report has differed from the government's private jobs number by an average of about 50,000 so far this year, said Cooper Howes, economist at Barclays. If that continues, it would be in line with a forecast for a gain of 100,000 nonfarm payrolls last month.

US stock index futures held gains immediately after the data, while Treasuries extended losses and the euro was steady against the dollar.

The day's data came as Federal Reserve policymakers head into the second day of their two-day meeting with investors watching to see if he central bank will unveil fresh measures to bolster the economy.

The pace of economic growth has slowed in recent months as the recovery has been buffeted by the euro zone debt crisis, a struggling US labour market and concerns over higher taxes and government spending cuts that are set to take place next year.

Data showed growth in the manufacturing sector slowed again in July with the final Markit US Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index falling to 51.4 from 52.5 in June.

Manufacturing had been a tent poll of the recovery, but the sector has shown recent signs of weakening. Investors will get another look at activity with the Institute for Supply Management report later today, which is expected to show growth edged up after a contraction in June.

Reuters