One of our favorite dishes is beef ribs.  We have found letting them marinate for two days in beer and then presoaking in our BBQ is the best way to have them tender. We slow cook them for an hour using beer to keep them cool and from overcooking. Read More

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This week is employment week. The Nov employment data hits on Friday. In the meantime there are a number of economic measurements for the markets to digest; the regional manufacturing report from Chicago on Tuesday, the Nov national ISM manufacturing index on Wed, the Fed's economic report ( the Beige Book) from the 12 districts on Wed... Read More

This week is Thanksgiving week, expect generally quiet trading with many leaving early and staying away until next week. At least that has been the norm for years at Thanksgiving, there are key data points all of which come on Tuesday and Wednesday. Treasury will borrow another $99B with three auctions; Monday $35B of 3 yr notes, Tuesd... Read More

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After a serious bout of selling last week in the bond and mortgage markets that jumped mortgage rates up 12 basis points, we look for a little improvement. However, it is unlikely the bearish outlook and technical picture will change. The overwhelming bullish outlook for rates on the QE move has not matched the earlier enthusiasm that ... Read More

This week the markets are still trying to work out how the Fed's quantative easing will impact the economic recovery and the impact on interest rates, especially long term rates including mortgage rates. The Fed announced it would buy up to $600B of US treasuries over the next six to eight months in a move that the Fed believes will in... Read More

This week is one big week for the markets.Since Sept 21st at the conclusion of the FOMC meeting when the Fed announced it was prepared to buy more treasuries the bond and mortgage markets have had a yo-yo ride. On the announcement it set up a big move lower in rates taking the 10 yr down 40 basis points, then markets began to see an ea... Read More

Well the first rains have fallen with more on the way.  Have you had a chance to observe an overflowing gutters in in your home or building?  Fog Lifter Window Solutions, in addition to quality window services offers high quality gutter cleaing services for Santa Cruz property owners and managers.  Call Tim Hiatt and Fog... Read More

This week starts with Fed chief Bernanke on Monday morning at 8:30. This week we will call election eve all week and the eve of the long awaited meeting next week when markets will hear what the QE is all about. Treasury has $109B of auctions to deal with this week; Monday $10B of 5 yr inflation indexed notes, normally not a market mov... Read More

This week, most of the economic data focuses on the manufacturing sector. Sept industrial production and factor usage (Monday), and the Philadelphia Fed business index (Friday). Housing gets a nod with Sept housing starts and permits (Tuesday) and the NAHB housing index (Monday). Sept leading economic indicators (Friday) are seen to be... Read More

This week is employment week on Friday. In the meantime the interest rate markets while still trading in a narrow range with little change are poised to improve somewhat with QE 2 coming. Last week there was still a debate that the Fed may not ease in Nov, but wait until more is known about the real economic outlook, that changed as th... Read More

This week the bond and mortgage markets don't have much data to look at until the end of the week; in the meantime Treasury will borrow $100B in 2 yr notes, 5 yr notes ands 7 yr notes on Monday through Wednesday. Interest rates on treasuries declined last week when the Fed said it would do more quantative easing to keep the economic re... Read More

The FOMC statement yesterday, that the Fed is increasingly concerned that inflation is too low and that the Fed is ready for another round of QEto boost economic recovery, is fueling a huge decline in the dollar, lower interest rates and strong increases in commodity prices. In the statement, for the first time, the Fed made clear its ... Read More

The FOMC (Rederal Reserve) meeting Tuesday and Wednesday dominates with pundits wondering whether the Fed will try more quantative easing in order to revive the stalled economic recovery. More QE easing may help line the pockets of those entities that the easing is directed toward but it will not do anything significant to revive the e... Read More