Forecast for the Week 
- Economic data kicks off Monday with the Chicago PMI report along with Pending Home Sales.
- On Tuesday, the ISM Index will give a national view of manufacturing.
- Wednesday brings the first of two key labor market reports with the ADP National Employment Report. The Fed’s Beige Book will also be released.
- Weekly Initial Jobless Claims, Productivity and the ISM Services Index will be released on Thursday.
- The week culminates with the February Jobs Report, which includes Non-farm Payrolls, the Unemployment Rate, Average Work Week and Hourly Earnings.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve. In contrast, 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. When Bond prices 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 are 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 have held relatively steady in the spate of economic news.
Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday February 26, 2016)
The Mortgage Market Guide View…
6 Rituals for Better Productivity
“Civilization advances by extending the number of operations we can perform without thinking about them.” Alfred North Whitehead, Mathematician
Do you feel like you aren’t accomplishing what you really want to each day? Or feel so pressed for time that your work feels haphazard? New York Times best-selling author Tony Schwarz says you can free up your mind, and your day, by turning some of your activities into rituals.
Here are six rituals you can create to help save time and brain space:
Work out first thing in the morning. Don’t fret about when you might fit in a workout. Just schedule it and do it. You may not even feel like it, but going through the motions can quickly improve your feelings and sharpen your focus for the day. Then it’s done!
Complete your most important tasks first. You’re fresher at the beginning of the day. Start with an early victory before things really get going each day to boost your motivation and morale.
Only work in 90-minute segments. Working longer than three hours straight creates lack of focus and fatigue. Use your smartphone to remind you to stop for well-deserved breaks throughout the day. Stretch your legs with a quick walk around the office or the block.
Write down ideas immediately. You can text or email yourself, talk into the voice recorder on your smartphone, or keep a small notepad with you at all times (including beside your bed). Capture ideas when you get them, and they won’t continue bouncing around your mind all day (or night).
Stick to your bedtime to ensure you get at least eight hours of rest. Skimping on sleep is an entry point for illness and lack of energy for focus.
Automate as much as possible. There are dozens of tasks you can automate to simplify your day and enjoy more work-life balance, from bill payments to letting calls go to voicemail while you’re working. Just remember, the less you have to think about doing mundane tasks, the more time you have for important things.
Please feel free to pass these helpful tips along to your team, clients and colleagues.
Source: Harvard Business Review
Economic Calendar for the Week of February 29 – March 4
|
Date
|
ET
|
Economic Report
|
For
|
Estimate
|
Actual
|
Prior
|
Impact
|
| Mon. February 29 |
09:45
|
Chicago PMI |
Feb
|
NA
|
55.6
|
Moderate
|
|
| Mon. February 29 |
10:00
|
Pending Home Sales |
Jan
|
NA
|
0.1%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Tue. March 01 |
10:00
|
ISM Index |
Feb
|
NA
|
48.2
|
HIGH
|
|
| Wed. March 02 |
08:15
|
ADP National Employment Report |
Feb
|
NA
|
205K
|
HIGH
|
|
| Wed. March 02 |
02:00
|
Beige Book |
Mar
|
NA
|
NA
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. March 03 |
08:30
|
Jobless Claims (Initial) |
2/27
|
NA
|
NA
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. March 03 |
08:30
|
Productivity |
Q4
|
NA
|
-3.0%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. March 03 |
10:00
|
ISM Services Index |
Feb
|
NA
|
53.5
|
Moderate
|
|
| Fri. March 04 |
08:30
|
Unemployment Rate |
Feb
|
NA
|
4.9%
|
HIGH
|
|
| Fri. March 04 |
08:30
|
Average Work Week |
Feb
|
NA
|
34.6
|
HIGH
|
|
| Fri. March 04 |
08:30
|
Hourly Earnings |
Feb
|
NA
|
0.5%
|
HIGH
|
|
| Fri. March 04 |
08:30
|
Non-farm Payrolls |
Feb
|
NA
|
151K
|
HIGH
|
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Mortgage Info By Michelle Wickett 