Markets

The composite of the Leading Economic Index was up 0.6% in June following a revised 0.2% increase in May, first reported as a 0.3% gain, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

Municipal bond traders will be seeing the last of this week’s larger deals come to market on Thursday, with North Carolina competitively selling more than $550 million of bonds in a single offering.

Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 15,000 to 233,000 in the July 15 employment survey week, following a small upward revision to the claims level in the previous week, data released by the Labor Department Thursday showed.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded in July, but at a slower pace than in June, as the general business conditions index decreased to 19.5 from 27.6 in June, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

Top-quality municipal bonds ended stronger on Wednesday, according to traders, as deals from Virginia and Georgia issuers hit the market.

The lockbox provision could allow issuers to borrow at higher ratings, but may punish existing bondholders.

The concerns have arisen in the weeks following a round of budget negotiations that was particularly tough for several states.

Top-quality municipal bonds were stronger at mid-session, as deals from Virginia and Georgia issuers hit the market on Wednesday.

Municipal bond traders will be seeing more deals come their way on Wednesday with competitive sales from a Virginia issuer and a negotiated deal from Georgia.

The pace of housing starts rose by 8.3% to a 1.215 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in June, well above expectations for a rebound to a 1.150 million pace, data reported by the Commerce Department Wednesday morning showed.