Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - Pending home sales climbed 2.0% to a reading of 93.7 in December as improvement in the economy and increasing affordability spurred buyers, according to a report released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index rose 0.3% in December to a seasonally adjusted level of 81.5, as the steel, machinery, and resource sectors all showed improvement, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported today.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for December increased to positive 0.03 from a revised negative 0.40 reading in November, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) climbed to negative 0.22 in December, from November’s revised negative 0.36, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

Manufacturing growth in the central Atlantic region slowed precipitously in January, falling to 18 from a prior reading of 25, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Consumer confidence improved faster in January than economists estimated, rising to an eight-month high of 60.6, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $35 billion of two-year notes with a 5/8% coupon at a 0.650% yield, a price of 99.950404.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $25 billion of four-week bills at a 0.145% high yield, a price of 99.988722.

NEW YORK – “Service sector activity grew moderately in January,” according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released today, “Within the service sector, retail activity strengthened compared to last month, while services firms experienced softer growth than a month ago. Retail sales accelerated in January, with a jump in shopper traffic. In addition, the on-going decline in big-ticket sales slowed markedly. Some retail inventory-building occurred. At services-providing firms, revenues expanded, although to a lesser extent than in December. Survey respondents continued to hold a confident outlook for prospects over the next six months; however, their predictions were somewhat less optimistic than in December.”

NEW YORK – “Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded for the fourth straight month,” according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. “Looking at the main components of the overall index, shipments and new orders grew more slowly, while employment growth held steady. Other indicators varied but suggested continued solid activity. Manufacturers reported that backlogs grew at a slightly slower pace and that increases in capacity utilization and delivery times eased somewhat, while finished goods inventories grew at a somewhat slower rate.”

NEW YORK - The consumer confidence index gained to 60.6 in January from an upwardly revised 53.3 last month, The Conference Board reported this morning.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $25 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were mixed, as the three-months incurred a 0.155% high rate, unchanged from 0.155% the previous week, and the six-months incurred a 0.180% high rate, down from 0.185%.

NEW YORK - Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were mixed, as the three-months incurred a 0.155% high rate, unchanged from 0.155% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.180% high rate, down from 0.185% the week before.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion 56-day cash management bills on Wednesday, January 26.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $25 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee will hold its first meeting of 2011 on Tuesday and Wednesday in an early test of the balance of power between voting members who support the current level of quantitative easing championed by Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke and those who oppose it.

NEW YORK – The Federal Open Market Committee will hold its first meeting of 2011 on Tuesday and Wednesday in an early test of the balance of power between voting members that support the current level of quantitative easing championed by Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and those who oppose it.

The composite index of leading economic indicators grew 1.0% in December to a level of 112.4, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

NEW YORK – The Treasury Department sold $13 billion of inflation-indexed 10-year TIPs at a 1.170% yield, an adjusted price of 99.599898, with a 1 1/8% coupon.

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