Up and away
Another round of stronger-than-expected US activity data combined with surging oil prices to send Treasury yields roaring to new cyclical peaks yesterday, triggering yet another spike in the dollar. Durable goods orders surprised with a 0.2-percent gain in August – markets had expected a -0.5 percent contraction – and non-defence capital spending climbed 0.9 percent, suggesting that the business investment cycle remained in relatively robust health. West Texas Intermediate prices briefly jumped above the $95 mark after the Energy Information Administration said crude inventories at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub fell to less than 22 million barrels, nearing tank bottoms...