Growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector slowed again in November, according to the Institute for Supply Management. Its key purchasing managers index for manufacturing fell to 50.8 in November from 50.9 in October, the fifth month of declines. The employment portion of the index also fell to 47.8 in November from 52.0 in the previous month.

"Prices, driven higher by energy prices, are once again the major concern," said Norbert Ore, chair of the Institute's manufacturing business survey committee.