Quick Overview

• The economy headed into the spring season with solid momentum, helping to generate more employment opportunities and keep factories humming, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.
  

• The New York Federal Reserve's regional index increased from 21.0 to 31.2 in March, stronger than expected.
  

• The U.S. Treasury said foreign purchases of U.S. securities totaled $78.0 billion.
  
  

• The U.S. Department of Energy said that:
  Supplies of crude oil supplies were up 4.8 million barrels to 339.9 million barrels.
  Supplies of unleaded gasoline were down 900,000 barrels
  Supplies of heating oil were down 2.8 million barrels.
  
  

• YoY the U.K.'s unemployment rate for November to January increased to 5.0% from 4.7% .
  

• Canada's manufacturing shipments were down 0.7% in January to C$51.8 billion. Excluding motor vehicles and parts -- shipments were up 0.3%.
  

• YoY China's industrial production was up 16% in the first two months of 2006.