Bonds

US budget deficit totals $138.5 billion in November

The federal government collected a record amount of tax income for the month of November and also had a record level of spending for the month, producing a budget deficit of $138.5 billion, up slightly from a year ago.

Business Highlights

___ Bitcoin futures soar amid frenzy over virtual currency NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street got its first taste of bitcoin on Monday, with the price of the first-ever futures contract for the digital currency jumping 20 percent.

Mnuchin announces steps to avoid broaching debt limit

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is alerting Congress that he will start taking emergency measures this week to keep the government from going above the debt limit when it goes back into effect on Friday.

Kansas plan for new prison draws criticism from lawmakers

A plan to have the largest private prison operator in the U.S. build a new state prison for Kansas immediately faced bipartisan criticism from legislators Thursday because the state would pay for the project by leasing the facility from the company for 20 years.