US: Durable Goods Orders decline by 1% in February vs. +0.6% expected

• Durable Goods Orders in the US declined unexpectedly in February.
• US Dollar Index stays in positive territory above 103.00.

Durable Goods Orders in the US decreased by 1%, or $2.6 billion, in February to $268.4 billion, the US Census Bureau announced on Friday. This reading followed January's declined of 5% (revised from -4.5%) and came in weaker than the market expectation for an increase of 0.6%.

"Excluding transportation, new orders were virtually unchanged," the publication further read. "Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.5 percent. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $2.6 billion or 2.8 percent to $89.4 billion."

Market reaction

The US Dollar Index keeps its footing after this data and was last seen rising 0.6% on the day at 103.20.