Gary Siegel

The Midwest Economy Index declined to negative 0.38 in August from a downwardly revised negative 0.11 in July, its lowest level since December 2009, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

The Treasury Department auctioned $29 billion of seven-year notes, with a 1% coupon, a 1.055% high yield, a price of 99.629938.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $32 billion 91-day bills and $28 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's region " slowed somewhat, although producers' expectations for future activity remained relatively positive," according to the bank's monthly manufacturing survey, released Thursday.

Pending home sales fell 2.6% to an index reading of 99.2 in August after an upwardly revised 2.6% increase to 101.9, originally reported as a 2.4% increase to 101.7 in July, according to a report released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors.

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index fell 1.2% in August to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.1, as two of the four regional sectors gained, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $35 billion of two-year notes with a 1/4% coupon at a 0.273% yield, a price of 99.954218.

The Federal Open Market Committee's latest easing was not appropriate nor is it likely to help the economy much, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Tuesday.

Service sector activity "picked up moderately," according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released Tuesday.

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded in September, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as the manufacturing index improved to positive 4 from negative 9 in August.

The consumer confidence index surged to 70.3 in September from an upwardly revised 61.3 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.

In a resounding endorsement of the Federal Open Market Committee moves earlier this month, San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John C. Williams said "they represent the best course to move us closer to" full employment, price stability and moderate interest rates.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.110% high rate, up from 0.105% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.140% high rate, up from 0.130% the week before.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $40 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, roe in August, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released Monday.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August slumped to negative 0.87 while the three-month moving average fell to negative 0.47, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

Should prices remain stable, the fed funds rate target should be kept "extraordinarily low" until the jobless rate drops under 5.5%, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Narayana Kocherlakota said Thursday.

The Treasury Department sold $13 billion of inflation-indexed 10-year TIPs at a negative 0.750% yield, an adjusted price of 108.522783, with a 1/8% coupon.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $29 billion seven-year notes on Thursday, Sept. 27.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $35 billion two-year notes on Tuesday, Sept. 25, and $35 billion five-year notes on Wednesday, Sept. 26.