Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's final August consumer sentiment index reading was 68.9, compared to the preliminary August 69.6 reading, the final July 67.8, the preliminary July 66.5, and the final June 76.0, according to market sources.

The Chicago Fed Midwest manufacturing index gained 2.2% in July to a seasonally adjusted level of 81.4, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region slowed in August, and producers were somewhat less optimistic than in previous months. Price indexes in the survey were mostly unchanged, according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey released on Thursday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $29 billion of seven-year notes, with a 1 7/8% coupon, a 1.989% high yield, a price of 99.258493.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index gained 2.2% in July to a seasonally adjusted level of 81.4 after the June report showed a revised 0.2% decrease to 79.6, originally reported as a 0.5% slide to 79.4, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported today.

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

NEW YORK - Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region “slowed in August, and producers were somewhat less optimistic than in previous months. Price indexes in the survey were mostly unchanged,” according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey, released Thursday.

Mortgage loan applications rose 4.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ended August 20 as refinancing activity increased in response to historically low mortgage rates, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $36 billion of five-year notes, with a 1 1/4% coupon, a 1.374% high yield, a price of 99.402797.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today sold $35 billion 21-day cash management bills, dated Aug. 26, due Sept. 16, at a 0.170% high tender rate.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today sold $25 billion 56-day cash management bills, dated Aug. 26, due Oct. 21, at a 0.140% high tender rate.

NEW YORK – Mortgage loan applications rose 4.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ended August 20, and grew 4.5% on an unadjusted basis, as refinancings increased as mortgage rates fell, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday.

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region advanced for the seventh straight month in August, albeit at a more moderate pace, according to a monthly business activity survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $37 billion of two-year notes with a 3/8% coupon at a 0.498% yield, a price of 99.755524.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $25 billion of 364-day bills at a 0.260% high yield, a price of 99.737111.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $34 billion of four-week bills at a 0.155% high yield, a price of 99.987944.

NEW YORK – “Service sector activity pulled back in August,” according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released today, “After three months of nearly flat sales, overall retail revenues declined, led by a sharp drop in big-ticket sales. Depressed shopper traffic added to the slump in retail activity. Merchants reduced inventories as they predicted weak demand for their products in the coming six months. Revenues at non-retail services firms also dropped in August, following five months of mild expansion. Services providers softened their outlook regarding demand for their services in the six months ahead.”

The Treasury Department Monday sold $7 billion of inflation-indexed 29-year, six-month bonds at a 1.768% yield, an adjusted price of 109.086149, with a 2 1/8% coupon.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for July improved to zero, its historical average, from a June reading of negative 0.70, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday. The headline index for June was revised upward from an initial reading of negative 0.63.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Monday sold $7 billion of inflation-indexed 29-year six-month bonds at a 1.768% yield, an adjusted price of 109.086149, with a 2 1/8% coupon.