Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $8 billion 30-year inflation-indexed notes on Monday, Feb. 22.

NEW YORK – The region's manufacturing sector continued to improve, as the general business conditions index increased to 17.6 in February from 15.2 in January, this month’s Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

NEW YORK - The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators gained 0.3% in January, its tenth straight gain, the Conference Board reported today.

While it is "not too surprising" that there would be a move to restructure the Federal Reserve system after two years of financial turmoil, "some of the proposals to change the Fed's structure are misguided and even pose serious risks to the health of our economy," Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president and chief executive officer Charles I. Plosser told the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia yesterday.

The Federal Open Market Committee decided to hold monetary policy where it was since large-scale asset purchase programs "were nearing completion and neither the economic outlook nor financial conditions had changed appreciably since the December meeting," according to minutes of the Jan. 26-27 meeting, which were released yesterday.

NEW YORK – The Federal Open Market Committee decided to hold monetary policy as it was since large-scale asset purchase programs “were nearing completion and neither the economic outlook nor financial conditions had changed appreciably since the December meeting,” according to minutes of the January 26-27 meeting, which were released today.

NEW YORK – While “not too surprising” there would be a move to restructure the Federal Reserve system after two years of turmoil, “some of the proposals to change the Fed’s structure are misguided and even pose serious risks to the health of our economy,” Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser told the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia today.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $32 billion of four-week bills at a 0.060% high yield, a price of 99.995333.

Builders' confidence in the market for new single-family homes gained in February, as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index — a monthly gauge of builder sentiment — rose to 17 from January's 15, the group announced yesterday.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed "conditions for New York manufacturers improved at a healthy pace in February," as the general business conditions index surged to 24.91 in the month from 15.92 in January, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported yesterday.

NEW YORK - Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes gained in February, as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index - a monthly gauge of builder sentiment – rose to 17 from January’s 15, the group announced this afternoon.

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 0.100% high rate, down from 0. 110% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.185% high rate, up from 0.170% the week before.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will sell $32 billion of four-week discount bills tomorrow.

NEW YORK - The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed “conditions for New York manufacturers improved at a healthy pace in February," the Federal Reserve Bank of New York today reported, as the general business conditions index surged to 24.91 in the month from 15.92 in January, the Fed reported.

Economic growth should be stronger than expected for the next three quarters but should slow down toward year-end, with 2.7% average annual growth for the next five quarters, according to 42 professional forecasters surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary February consumer sentiment index reading was 73.7, compared to the final January figure of 74.4, the preliminary January reading of 72.8, and the final December number of 72.5, according to market sources. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had predicted a 75.0 reading for the index.

NEW YORK – Economic growth should be stronger than expected for the next three quarters but slow down toward year end, with 2.7% average annual growth for the next five quarters, according to 42 professional forecasters surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's preliminary February consumer sentiment index reading was 73.7, compared to the final January 74.4, the preliminary January 72.8, and the final December 72.5, according to market sources.

The Treasury Department yesterday auctioned $16 billion of 30-year bonds with a 4 5/8% coupon at a 4.720% high yield, a price of 98.483611. The bid-to-cover ratio was 2.36.

Existing home sales were strong in most states during the fourth quarter, and many areas saw prices increase from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors.