US factory orders showed solid gains in March, suggesting sluggishness in business spending may have been short-lived.
Orders at US factories rose a greater-than-expected 3.1% in March on a rise in civilian aircraft orders, a Commerce Department report showed.
Orders for durable goods rose by 3.7% during March, topping forecasts for a rise or 3.3%.
Orders for non-durable goods, such as petrol and chemicals, rose by 2.3% - the biggest monthly gain in more than a year.
