Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - “Texas factory activity was flat in December,” according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released today.

The University of Michigan's final December consumer sentiment index reading was 72.5, compared to the preliminary December number of 73.4, the final November figure of 67.4, the preliminary November 66.0 reading, and the final October 70.6 number, according to market sources.

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

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $32 billion seven-year notes on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $44 billion two-year notes on Monday, Dec. 28 and $42 billion five-year notes on Tuesday, Dec. 29.

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's final December consumer sentiment index reading was 72.5, compared to the preliminary December 73.4, the final November 67.4, the preliminary November 66.0 reading, and the final October 70.6, according to market sources.

"Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region pulled back in December from positive territory after expanding during the previous seven months," according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $28 billion of four-week bills at a 0.005% high yield, a price of 99.999611.

NEW YORK – “Activity in the service sector remained weak in December,” according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released today, “Retail sales dropped sharply, led by falling big-ticket sales, and shopper traffic declined. Retail inventory contraction slowed. Revenues at services firms also fell in December. Looking ahead six months, however, survey respondents were optimistic about business prospects.”

NEW YORK – “Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region pulled back in December from positive territory after expanding during the previous seven months,” according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. “All broad indicators of activity — shipments, new orders and employment — landed in negative territory. Most other indicators also suggested additional softness. Capacity utilization turned negative following seven months of improvement, while backlogs held steady. Vendor delivery times were virtually unchanged, while manufacturers reported slightly quicker growth in inventories.”

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.070% high rate, up from 0.040% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.170% high rate, up from 0.160% the week before.

The Chicago Fed national activity index for November improved dramatically, rising to negative 0.32 from a revised negative 1.02 reading in October, originally reported as negative 1.08, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported yesterday.

When the Federal Reserve says accommodation will remain in effect for an "extended period," Chicago Federal Reserve Bank president Charles Evans said he translates that into "about three to four [Federal Open Market Committee] meetings," Evans said in an interview yesterday.

NEW YORK – Gradual improvement is expected for the local economy next year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’s annual forecast, released today, but not all parts of the economy are expected to show strength, and downside risks linger.

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 0.070% high rate, up from 0.040% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.170% high rate, up from 0.160% the week before.

NEW YORK – When the Federal Reserve says accommodation will remain in effect for an “extended period”, Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans, said he translates that into “about three to four meetings,” he said in an interview today.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will sell $28 billion of four-week discount bills tomorrow.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November improved dramatically, rising to negative 0.32 from a revised negative 1.02 reading in October, originally reported as negative 1.08.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded, as the general business conditions index increased to 20.4 in December from 16.7 in November, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

The composite index of leading economic indicators gained 0.9% in November, its eighth straight gain, the Conference Board reported yesterday.