Futures up

The S&P 500 Jun 08 is up 4.5 (0.50%) Nasdaq 100 Jun 09 up 6.5 points (0.46%) and Dow Jones Futures is up 47 points (0.57%) at9.28 AM (28 May 2009)

Futures edge higher after strong durable goods data

Auto sector remains in focus; Time Warner to spin off AOL unit

US Census Bureau

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $3.0 billion or 1.9 percent to $161.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This was the second increase in the last three months and followed a 2.1 percent March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.8 percent. Excluding defense, new orders also increased 1.0 percent.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down nine consecutive months, decreased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $174.2 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.9 percent March decrease.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down seven consecutive months, decreased $8.9 billion or 1.2 percent to $748.9 billion. This followed a 1.7 percent March decrease.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, down four consecutive months, decreased $2.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $327.0 billion. This followed a 1.7 percent March decrease.

Capital Goods Industries

Nondefense

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in April decreased $1.0 billion or 2.0 percent to $49.5 billion.

Defense

Defense new orders for capital goods in April increased $2.0 billion or 23.2 percent to $10.8 billion.