US factory orders up 2.7 percent in October

WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories rose in October by the largest amount in 16 months but a key category that tracks business investment posted an anemic gain.

U.S. manufacturers have struggled for much of this year, having to deal with the impact of a strong dollar, which makes their exports more expensive in overseas markets, and big cutbacks in investment spending by energy companies in the wake of falling oil prices.

[...] this year, orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft - the category used to track business investment - are down 4 percent from the same period in 2015.