Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - Chief executives’ confidence in the nation’s economy held steady in the second quarter of 2010, as the Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence remained 62.

Texas factory activity diminished in June after seven monthly increases, according to the business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and released yesterday.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for May fell to 0.21 from a revised 0.25 reading in April, while the three-month moving average improved to 0.28 in May from April’s revised 0.05 reading, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported yesterday.

Monetary policy and the Fed’s balance sheet are distinct tools in its arsenal that “should not be conflated or confused,” Federal Reserve Board governor Kevin Warsh said yesterday.

NEW YORK – Monetary policy and the Fed’s balance sheet are distinct tools in the Fed’s arsenal and “should not be conflated or confused,” Federal Reserve Board Governor Kevin Warsh said today.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index jumped 1.7% in May to a seasonally adjusted level of 86.7 after the April report showed a revised 1.3% increase to 85.2, originally reported as a 1.2% rise to 85.2, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported today.

NEW YORK - Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.160% high rate, up from 0. 115% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.215% high rate, up from 0.170% the week before.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will sell $36 billion of four-week discount bills tomorrow.

NEW YORK - Texas factory activity decreased in June after seventh monthly increases, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released today.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for May slipped to positive 0.21 from a revised positive 0.25 reading in April, originally reported as positive 0.29.

The University of Michigan's final June consumer sentiment index reading edged past economists' expectations to reach a 29-month high of 76 in June, according to market sources.

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's final June consumer sentiment index reading was 76.0, compared to the preliminary 75.5, the final May 73.6 reading, and the final April 72.2, according to market sources.

The Treasury Department yesterday auctioned $30 billion of seven-year notes with a 2.500% coupon, a 2.575% high yield, and a price of 99.522396. The bid-to-cover ratio was 3.01. Tenders at the high yield were allotted 65.69%. The median yield was 2.530%. The low yield was 2.385%.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $30 billion of seven-year notes, with a 2.500% coupon, a 2.575% high yield, a price of 99.522396.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion year bills on Tuesday, June 29.

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

NEW YORK - Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region “eased slightly in June, and producers were somewhat less optimistic than in previous months,” according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey, released today.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today sold $25 billion 56-day cash management bills, dated June 24, due Aug. 19, at a 0.120% high tender rate.

The Treasury Department yesterday auctioned $40 billion of two-year notes with a 5/8% coupon at a 0.738% yield, a price of 99.776070.

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded for a fifth consecutive month in June, albeit at a slower pace, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s monthly business activity survey.