February factory orders -0.5%, above the by.>

US DATA: February factory orders -0.5%, above the -0.6% expected by 

MNI and as expected by BBG, with durable goods orders unrevised at 

-1.6%, nondurable goods orders +0.6% on petroleum and coal.

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- February decrease led by declines in transportation, machinery, 

computers and electronics, and furniture products. 

- Excluding -4.5% transportation orders, factory orders would have been 

+0.3%. Durables ex. trans. -0.1% from +0.1% reading in the advanced 

estimate.

- Nondefense capital goods new orders -6.2%, but -0.1% ex aircraft.    

- Total factory shipments were +0.4% in February, with nondefense 

capital goods shipments +0.6%, but -0.1% ex aircraft.

- Factory inventories +0.3%. Advance data on retail and wholesale 

inventories were not released this month.