Gary Siegel

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $30 billion of four-week bills at a 0.065% high yield, a price of 99.994944.

Industrial production was unchanged in March, the second straight unchanged month, while capacity use slid to 78.6% from 78.7% last month, the Federal Reserve reported Tuesday.

Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes declined as the National Association of Home Builders’ housing market index dropped to 25 in April from 28 in March.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed manufacturing activity “improved modestly” in New York State, although it was weaker than in previous months, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Monday as the general business conditions index declined to 6.56 in April from 20.21 in March. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected the index to slip to 18.00.

Calling the recovery “frustratingly slow,” Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Sandra Pianalto said Monday the pace of economic growth has picked up somewhat.

Calling the recovery “frustratingly slow,” Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President and CEO Sandra Pianalto said Monday the pace of economic growth has picked up somewhat and inflation should remain around 2%.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower, as the three-months incurred a 0.080% high rate, down from 0.085% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.135% high rate, off from 0.150% the week before.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $30 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes declined as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index - a monthly gauge of builder sentiment – dropped to 25 in April from 28 in March.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed manufacturing activity “improved modestly” in New York State, although it was weaker than in previous months, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Monday as the general business conditions index declined to 6.56 in April from 20.21 in March.

While lauding the Federal Reserve's continuing move toward transparency, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president Charles I. Plosser recommended the Federal Open Market Committee issue a "more comprehensive monetary policy report" regularly, even quarterly.

The speeches of Federal Reserve officials always contain a disclaimer that their remarks express their own views, not those of the Federal Open Market Committee.

The Treasury Department Wednesday auctioned $13 billion of 29-year, 10-month bonds with a 3 1/8% coupon at a 3.230% high yield, a price of 95.165202.

While lauding the Federal Reserve’s continuing move toward transparency, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser recommended the Federal Open Market Committee issue a “more comprehensive monetary policy report” regularly, even quarterly.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $16 billion five-year inflation-indexed bonds on Thursday, April 19.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $30 billion 91-day bills and $28 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The economic expansion continued in all regions of the country, with most terming expansion as modest or moderate, according to the Beige Book released on Wednesday.

The economic expansion continued in all regions of the country, with most terming expansion as modest or moderate, according to the Beige Book, released Wednesday.

The Treasury Department auctioned $21 billion of 9-year 10-month notes with a 2% coupon at a 2.043% high yield, a price of 99.616439.

Money market funds took unnecessary risks that resulted in their needing support, and while the SEC is working to secure money market funds, with proposed reform ideas expected in the coming months, “the status quo is not acceptable,” Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President & Chief Executive Officer Eric S. Rosengren said Wednesday.