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This section offers news briefs related to the business sector of the U.S. as of February 1970. Finance analysts believe that the decline in the interest rates in the country is seasonal and it is influenced by the weakening in the demand for public funds. An increase in corporate bonds issued in January has contributed to the change in the trend in the interest rates. Manufacturing industries are operating at 77 per cent of their capacity which is considered as the lowest rate since the last month of 1960.

The article reports on the challenges faced by the turnpikes in covering their bond interest payments in the U.S. in 1957. It mentions that turnpikes commissions are trying to increase revenues by revising their tolls, which aimed at cutting interests by getting state backing for bonds. As a result, the 10-month 1957 revenue for the road ran over 30%.

The article discusses the trend of increasing interest rates from the 90-day Treasury bills to long-term corporate bonds. It points out that the expanding economy is one reason for the increase in rates as money markets prepare for an onslaught of federal borrowing in October 1972. It indicates efforts of Federal Reserve Board to keep money supply growth down and keep the prime held below the 6% mark as it follows a slightly more restrictive monetary policy. It cites belief of some New York bankers that the prime will hit 6% before election day.

The article looks at the impact of the refusal of the U.S. Congress to increase the ceiling on government bond interest rates on the financial markets. One such impact is the rise of the three-month Treasury bill rate to 3.8% in August 1959. Government bond yields also reached a 38-year peak of 4.8% and corporate and municipal bond prices started dropping. Amidst the crisis, the Federal Reserve remains firm on its tight money policy.