We've appeared to have gotten Baby New Year off to a great start, so we'll just feed him his bottle. While that's going on, I have this thought. It's 2010, and back on that magical January 1, many folks all over the world made either one or several resolutions that they've chosen to change or straighten out their lives.

How much do you want to bet they've already broken one? It's what day now, the 12th? It's practically comical how many people make...

This is not the person I grew up with.

Actually, Both parents have a variation of the dreaded Alzheimer's: My brother moved into my parents' home to care for him, with assistance, during the duration. It astounds me how, even though they now live apart, the two are so in synch with each other: one knows when the other is having a hard time by some sort of eerie telepathy - and they each take their downturns simultaneously.

The tough part for me (even with the Ativan)...

The fixed income sector had a pretty flat trading day yesterday with below average volume. Both treasuries and mortgage backed securities traded sideways most of the day posting very modest price gains as no economic data hit the news wires. The higher price for MBS did not warrant lenders reissuing rate sheets leaving mortgage rates unchanged on the day.

The economic calendar is light today with the only significant data being the International Trade report which shows the difference...

In 2010 :
Lo : 5 °
Hi : 29 °
Rainfall : 0.00 "

In 2009 :
Lo : 34 °
Hi : 63 °
Rainfall : 0.00 ”

In 2008 :
Lo : 45 °
Hi : 65 °
Rainfall : 0.70 "

In 2007 :
Lo : 23 °
Hi : 49 °
Rainfall : 0.00 "

In 2006 :
Lo : 40 °
Hi : 71 °
Rainfall : 1.20 ”

In 2005 :
Lo : 47 °
Hi : 63 °
Rainfall : 0.00 "

In 2004...

Last week ended on somewhat of a disappointing note for mortgage rate watchers. Despite a worse than expected non farm payroll number, mortgage backed securities were unable to sustain a rally which would lower consumer borrowing costs. Immediately following the release of the data early Friday morning, MBS did move considerably higher only to give back most of the gains as the day progressed. All in all, MBS did close in the green but the gains did not justify lenders issuing new rate sheets....