US Durable Goods Orders rise 3.1% in January vs. 2% expected

• Durable Goods Orders in the US rose at a stronger pace than expected in January.
• US Dollar Index stays in daily range above 106.50.

Durable Goods Orders in the US rose by 3.1%, or $8.7 billion, in January to $286 billion, the US Census Bureau reported on Thursday. This reading followed a 2.2% decrease reported in December and came in better than the market expectation for an increase of 2%.

"Excluding transportation, new orders were virtually unchanged," the Census Bureau noted in its press release. "Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5%. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $8.6 billion or 9.8%, to $96.5 billion."

Market reaction

These figures don't seem to be having a noticeable impact on the US Dollar's valuation. At the time of press, the US Dollar Index was up 0.16% on the day at 106.65.