Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes was steady, as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index - a monthly gauge of builder sentiment – remained 16 in December from an unrevised 16 in November.

NEW YORK - The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed “conditions improved in December for New York State manufacturers,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York today reported, as the general business conditions index reversed to positive 10.57 in the month from negative 11.14 in November, the Fed reported.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $22 billion of 364-day bills at a 0.295% high yield, a price of 99.701722.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $25 billion of four-week bills at a 0.085% high yield, a price of 99.993389.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were mixed, as the three-months incurred a 0.140% high rate, down from 0.145% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.190% high rate, up from 0.185% the week before.

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 0.140% high rate, down from 0.145% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.190% high rate, up from 0.185% the week before.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion 56-day cash management bills on Wednesday, December 15.

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

Consumer sentiment rose more than economists expected in December, increasing to a preliminary level of 74.2 in the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index from a final November reading of 71.6.

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's preliminary December consumer sentiment index reading was 74.2, compared to the final November 71.6, the preliminary November 69.3, and the final October 67.7, according to market sources.

Forecasters see moderate growth ahead for the U.S. economy, with real gross domestic product growing at an annual rate of 2.3% in the second half, 2.5% early next year, and 2.9% in the last six months of 2011, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s December Livingston survey.

The Treasury Department auctioned $13 billion of 29-year, 11-month bonds Thursday with a 4 1/4% coupon at a 4.410% high yield and a price of 97.349324.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $13 billion of 29-year 11-month bonds with a 4 1/4% coupon at a 4.410% high yield, a price of 97.349324.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $22 billion year bills on Tuesday, December 14.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $29 billion 91-day bills and $28 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

NEW YORK – Forecasters see moderate growth ahead for the U.S. economy, with real GDP growing at an annual rate of 2.3% in the second half of 2010, 2.5% early next year, and 2.9% in the last six months of 2011, according to the 33 participants in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s December Livingston Survey.

The Treasury Department Wednesday auctioned $21 billion of nine-year 11-month notes with a 2 5/8% coupon at a 3.340% high yield, and a price of 94.002822. The bid-to-cover ratio was 2.92. Tenders at the high yield were allotted 8.71%. All competitive tenders at lower yields were accepted in full. The median yield was 3.259%; low yield 3.170%.

Mortgage-loan application volume slipped 0.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis the week ended Dec. 3, according to a weekly survey released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $21 billion of 9-year 11-month notes with a 2 5/8% coupon at a 3.340% high yield, a price of 94.002822.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today sold $25 billion 56-day cash management bills, dated December 9, due February 3, 2011, at a 0.125% high tender rate.