Japan’s Economy Grows; Home Builder Confidence Up; New York Manufacturing Rises; Credit Card Defaults Stabilize in July; MSNBC Buys “Hyperlocal” News Aggregator; Reader’s Digest Files for Bankruptcy; Lowe’s Profit Falls 19%

The Treasury is having a tough time hawking US debt these days.  This from today’s Financial Times: The 30-year Treasury yield rose to 4.30 per cent on Thursday from 4.10 per cent the day before after bids at the government auction came at lower prices than expected.

In the currency market, the dollar slid lower against the euro. Late Tuesday, the euro was trading at $1.3044 vs. $1.284 on Monday.

In the currency market, the dollar dropped against the euro. Late Thursday, the euro was trading at $1.315 vs. $1.315 on Wednesday.

In the currency market, the dollar lost most of its early gains but still finished slightly higher against the euro. Late Tuesday, the euro was trading at $1.3529 vs. $1.3588 on Monday.

In the currency market, the dollar rallied strongly against the euro in its opening shot across the bow for 2009. Late Monday, the euro was trading at $1.3588 vs. $1.3869 on Friday.

The base metals were mixed on Tuesday. Copper fell from the pre-dawn hours through to the New York open, and the modest rally back from there wasn’t enough to return it to positive territory as it finished at $1.4485/lb., down 4½ cents.

The base metals were all solidly in the green on Monday. Copper went skyward late in the pre-dawn hours, peaked just shy of $1.70 in the late morning, then eased slightly into the afternoon hours, finishing at $1.6614/lb., up 8 2/3 cents from Friday.

In the currency market, the dollar took a savage beating vs. the euro. Late Monday, the euro was trading at $1.2905 vs. $1.2587 on Friday.

In the currency market, the dollar edged higher against the euro. Late Wednesday, the euro was trading at $1.2948 vs. $1.3002 on Tuesday.