Gary Siegel

The U.S. services sector expanded at a slightly slower pace in March as the non-manufacturing business activity composite index was 54.4 in the month, compared to 56.0 in February, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Institute for Supply Management reported Tuesday.

The University of Michigan's final March consumer sentiment index reading was 78.6, compared to the preliminary March 71.8, the final February 77.6, and the final January 73.8, according to market sources.

The Treasury Department auctioned $29 billion of seven-year notes, with a 1.125% coupon, a 1.248% high yield, a price of 99.178276.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion year bills on April 2.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $35 billion 91-day bills and $30 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's region "fell at a slower rate, but producers were considerably more optimistic about future months," according to the bank's monthly manufacturing survey, released Thursday.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers' Business Barometer fell to 52.4 in March from 55.6 in February, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Thursday.

Despite possible costs and risks, monetary policy needs to remain very accommodative, as restrictive fiscal policy holds back the recovery, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President and Chief Executive Officer William C. Dudley said Monday.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower, as the three-months incurred a 0.075% high rate, down from 0.085% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.105% high rate, off from 0.110% the week before.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $45 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index climbed 0.1% in January to a seasonally adjusted level of 97.0, as two of the four regional sectors improved, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for February surged to positive 0.44 from a revised negative 0.49 reading in January, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) slid to positive 0.09 from a revised positive 0.28 in January, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

The Treasury Department sold $13 billion of inflation-indexed 9-year 10-month TIPs at a negative 0.602% yield, an adjusted price of 107.058044, with a 1/8% coupon.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $29 billion seven-year notes on Thursday, March 28.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $35 billion two-year notes on Tuesday, March 26, and $35 billion five-year notes on Wednesday, March 27.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $35 billion 91-day bills and $30 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded in March, as the general business conditions index rebounded to positive 2.0 from negative 12.5 in February, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators grew 0.5% in February following a revised 0.5% increase in January, first reported as a 0.2% gain, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $45 billion of four-week bills at a 0.080% high yield, a price of 99.993778.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower, as the three-months incurred a 0.085% high rate, down from 0.095% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.110% high rate, off from 0.115% the week before.