U.S. January durable goods orders fell a big 6.0% after posting a downward revised +1.2% in December. The data suggest the factory sector remains weak. Orders were down 0.3% excluding transportation in their third drop in four months. Durables orders excluding defense fell 6.0% in their first drop since October. Orders stand at their lowest level since June 1999. The orders weakness is best seen outside the volatile transportation sector, where the Commerce Department said all categories fell. Still, civilian aircraft orders plunged 49.3%, at odds with the January Boeing report of 48 orders versus 30 in December.