Factory orders +1.7%, above the +1.5% with..>

US DATA: Factory orders +1.7%, above the +1.5% expected, with durable 

goods orders rev down slightly to +2.8%. Nondurable goods orders +0.7% 

on petro and  coal products.

- Factory orders ex transportation +0.7%.

- Nondefense capital goods new orders -0.4% in the month, and -0.6% 

ex aircraft.    

- Total factory shipments were +0.6% in December, with nondefense 

capital goods shipments -0.5%, but +0.4% ex aircraft.

- Factory inventories +0.5%, so combined with the advance estimates for 

retail (+0.2%) and wholesale inventories (+0.2%), this would result in 

+0.3% for business inventories.