U.S. services sector expands strongly as orders, employment rise

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The vast U.S. services sector expanded in April as new orders and employment accelerated, bolstering views that economic growth would rebound after almost stalling in the first quarter. The Institute for Supply Management said its nonmanufacturing index rose 1.2 percentage points to a reading of 55.7 in April. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the services sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the U.S. economy.