U.S. export order expectations returned to positive territory in the latest ISM survey, with a reading of 50.4% where 50.0% or above indicates expansion. The previous month’s survey saw a 41.0% result. The commodity purchase focused “phase 1” trade deal with China may be a driver of optimism for exports, though the import sentiment survey dropped to its lowest since at least 2010 at 45.3%. Expectations for export orders also remain negative in both China – with a 47.0% reading in the latest survey from 48.2% a month earlier – as well as in Europe. With global exports having continued to ...