April durables orders jump WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for U.S.-made durable goods jumped more than expected in April, but after a big rebound in transportation orders was stripped out, they registered a surprise drop, a government report showed on Wednesday. A separate report showed new home sales jumped to a record high last month on a recent dip in already-low mortgage interest rates. That report followed data showing bumper existing homes sales in the month amid mounting concern about regional housing bubbles. "Some buyers, some builders, some lenders are going to get burned, could very likely get burned, in some of these local markets," Atlanta Fed President Jack Guynn said in a speech to builders in Atlanta. Orders for durable goods -- big-ticket items meant to last three years or more -- climbed 1.9 percent in April, but were down 0.2 percent excluding the volatile transportation category. The durables report suggested a patchy economy, with orders moving ahead in areas, including computers, but declining in segments such as communications equipment. "The report is kind of a mixed bag, with the headline number coming in stronger than expected, but the ex-transportation is off pretty sharply and that's a little disappointing," said Omer Esiner, a market analyst for Ruesch International in Washington. MARKETS EYE OIL, FED COMMENTS There was little market reaction to the economic data. U.S. stocks fell as crude oil topped $50 a barrel, reigniting worry about higher energy costs. The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average closed down 45.88 points, or 0.44 percent, to end at 10,457.80. U.S. Treasury debt prices rose slightly on the durables report, but turned later turned lower. Guynn's speech, which made clear that policy-makers were not yet done raising interest rates, and that inflation was on the rise, helped push bond prices down. Yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note (US10YT=RR: Quote , Profile , Research ) had climbed to 4.09 by late afternoon after hitting a fresh three-month low of 4.004 percent during the day. The Commerce Department said new single-family home sales rose unexpectedly to a record seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.316 million units from a downwardly revised 1.313 million rate in March. Analysts were expecting a 1.350 million rate, down from the previously reported 1.431 million pace. "Even though the Fed has raised short-term rates eight times over the last year it hasn't been enough to dampen the housing market yet," said Gary Thayer, chief economist for A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis.     Continued ... Quelle "April durables orders jump" : reuters.com Main page for "April durables orders jump"