Greek factory activity grows for second straight month in July

Greek manufacturing activity expanded in July for the second straight month, driven by a rise in staffing numbers and output, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the economy, stood at 50.5 in July, unchanged from June. Readings above 50 denote expansion in activity.

Companies hired more staff for the third successive month in July, leading the sector towards its second successive rise in output. The rate of expansion, though slight overall, was the most marked since December 2015. Business confidence was also a positive feature of the survey, hitting a 39-month high.

"Optimism was likely buoyed by the ongoing resurgence in the European economy, and will help boost investment spending going forward," Markit economist Alex Gill said. "The country's return to financial markets...