Durable goods orders, according to the US Census Bureau report issued moments ago, contracted in January, below market expectations, by 4.5%, or 13 billion, to reach $272.3 billion on a monthly basis, after a growth of about 5.6% in May, while expectations were for a decline of 3.7%.

Core orders, excluding transportation, grew by 0.7% from a 0.2% decline in December, while new orders, excluding defense, fell to 5.1%.

The US dollar, after declines since the beginning of the European session, records additional declines, and is trading at 104.93 levels, less than an hour before the opening of the US markets.