The Non-Manufacturing PMI registered 54.5 percent in March, 1.1 percentage points higher than the February reading of 53.4 percent. Smaller increase to 54.5 was expected. This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slightly faster rate. The majority of respondents’ comments indicate that business conditions are mostly positive and that the economy is stable and will continue on a course of slow, steady growth.
Separate report showed that job openings were little changed at 5.4 million in February. The job openings rate was 3.7%. The number of job openings was little changed in February for total private and for government. Job openings increased in educational services (+48,000) and federal government (+19,000) but decreased in health care and social assistance (-147,000), finance and insurance (-54,000), and mining and logging (-8,000). Job openings edged up in construction (+36,000) and edged down in durable goods manufacturing (-19,000).
Euro is currently being traded few points above 1.1350 level, Sterling is around 1.4160 handle, while Aussie is at 0.7530 area.