By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. and foreign businesses stepped up their demand in November for capital equipment to expand production, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Factory orders increased 1.1% in November, faster than the 0.8% rise expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Orders for durable goods increased 0.2% in November, unrevised down from the estimate late last month. Orders for nondurable goods rose 1.8%. Core capital equipment orders rose 3.6% in November, revised up from 2.9% estimated a week ago, the government said.
