Forecast for the Week 
The big news of the week is the Jobs Report for March that will be released on Friday.
- Manufacturing data from Chicago PMI and the ISM Index will be released on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
- In labor market news, the ADP Employment Report will be delivered on Wednesday, followed by weekly Initial Jobless Claims on Thursday.
- Also on Thursday, look for the ISM Services Index, which is a national non-manufacturing index.
- That leads us to Friday’s Non-farm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate, which will be closely dissected by both Wall Street and the Federal Reserve.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based.
When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving–and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.
To go one step further–a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.
As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds were able to improve last week, aided in part by weak housing news. Home loan rates remain attractive and I’ll be watching their movement closely.
Chart: Fannie Mae 4.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday March 28, 2014)
3 Secrets to a Better Business Mind
It’s commonly held that intelligence is set from birth, meaning there’s no way to “boost” brainpower. But many studies prove the opposite. A combination of lifestyle adjustments and mental exercises can not only increase intelligence, but also improve general brain health.
The following tips can help boost mental activity and increase your intelligence …all of which helps your business!
1. Keep Memorizing. There is no shortage of contemporary studies that show a powerful correlation between a strong working memory and overall intelligence. A good memory has also been shown to slow down mental aging. Start small by memorizing your to-do list or daily schedule, then step it up a notch and memorize scripts that can help you during meetings with clients. If you want to take it to another level, try learning a new language and use it to expand business contacts in your community.
2. Mix it up. Do you have the exact same routine every single day? Falling into rigid patterns promotes mental passivity, or the opposite of stimulation. So, try mixing things up a bit. Challenge yourself by participating in new activities. Join a softball league, a reading club, or even a theater group, which are not only fun but also great ways to expand your connections in your community. At the very least, play around with your daily schedule. The point is that too much regimen can dull the senses.
3. Exercise. In his book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, author John J. Ratey, M.D., says if you want clear thinking, stress reduction, relief from depression, and more confidence in yourself, you only have to do one thing: exercise. All of which is sure to result in a better bottom line for your business, too!
Start implementing these easy tips today! Your brain and your business will benefit.
Economic Calendar for the Week of March 30 – April 04
|
Date
|
ET
|
Economic Report
|
For
|
Estimate
|
Actual
|
Prior
|
Impact
|
| Mon. March 31 |
09:45
|
Chicago PMI |
Mar
|
NA
|
59.8
|
HIGH
|
|
| Tue. April 01 |
10:00
|
ISM Index |
Mar
|
NA
|
53.2
|
HIGH
|
|
| Wed. April 02 |
08:15
|
ADP National Employment Report |
Mar
|
NA
|
139K
|
HIGH
|
|
| Thu. April 03 |
08:30
|
Jobless Claims (Initial) |
3/29
|
NA
|
NA
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. April 03 |
10:00
|
ISM Services Index |
Mar
|
NA
|
51.6
|
Moderate
|
|
| Fri. April 04 |
08:30
|
Non-farm Payrolls |
Mar
|
NA
|
175K
|
HIGH
|
|
| Fri. April 04 |
08:30
|
Unemployment Rate |
Mar
|
NA
|
6.7%
|
HIGH
|
|
| Fri. April 04 |
08:30
|
Hourly Earnings |
Mar
|
NA
|
0.4%
|
HIGH
|
|
| Fri. April 04 |
08:30
|
Average Work Week |
Mar
|
NA
|
34.2
|
HIGH
|
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Mortgage Info By Michelle Wickett 