Spot gold trades back above $3,340/oz after New York manufacturing index improves to 11.9

(Kitco News) – Manufacturing activity in the New York region rose further into expansionary territory this month, according to the latest figures published by the New York Federal Reserve.The regional central bank announced on Friday that its Empire State manufacturing survey improved to 11.9in August, after posting a 5.5 print in July. The data was much better than expectations, as consensus forecasts called for a decline to 0.0.