Markets

The composite of the Leading Economic Index was up 0.2% in November following a downwardly revised 0.3% drop in October.

Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits rose by 8,000 to 214,000 in the December 15 survey week, well below expectations for a 225,000 level.

Manufacturers report expansion “continued to grow but remained subdued” in December.

The Federal Open Market Committee cut its projection for next year to two rate increases from three.

An improved Philadelphia economy drove the city’s long-struggling school district to an investment grade rating from Moody’s Investors Service.

The tax fix is being lost in the rush by Congress to enact a temporary spending measure to keep the government operating through Feb. 8.

A lone large deal came into an even stronger municipal bond market, as all eyes are on the Federal Open Market Committee.

The commonwealth intends to sell $915 million of tax-exempt new money and refunding bonds and $50 million of taxable bonds.

Existing home sales were up 1.9% to a seasonally adjusted 5.32 million-unit rate in November.

The U.S. current account deficit widened to $124.8 billion in the third quarter from a revised $101.2 billion gap in the previous quarter.