March factory orders +1.9%, above the +1.5%.>

US DATA: March factory orders +1.9%, above the +1.5% expected by MNI and 

+1.6% expected by BBG, with durable goods orders rev down to +2.6% from 

+2.7%, nondurable goods orders +1.1% on petroleum and coal products.

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- March increase led by transportation and computers and electronic 

products. 

- Excluding +7.0% transportation orders, factory orders would have been 

+0.8%. Durables ex. trans. +0.3% from already reported +0.4%.

- Nondefense capital goods new orders +6.5% and +1.4% ex aircraft.    

- Total factory shipments were +0.7%, with nondefense capital goods 

shipments +0.2%, but flat ex aircraft.

- Factory inventories +0.4%. Advance data on retail and wholesale 

inventories will be released Friday.