Before we launch into the plethora of investor updates, let’s take a look at the market. With the absence of any bond-market news, the focus continues to be on stocks. Asian stocks rallied last night back to levels last seen in October. To many, in spite of the poor earnings results by many companies, it would appear that investors don’t want to miss out on a rally, and seem to be putting cash to work in the stock market. From last week, the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index rose for the second straight gain, from 57.3 in March. Today we have Construction Spending and Pending Home Sales. Tomorrow the ISM Services number, Thursday our old friend Jobless Claims, and then on Friday we can get fired up about all of the Unemployment data. Hourly Earnings are expected to be up .2%, Nonfarm Payrolls -663,000, and the Unemployment Rate expected around 8.5%. The results of the government’s stress tests for 19 large financial institutions will be released on Thursday. We also have the Treasury selling over $70 billion in securities Tuesday-Thursday, which is weighing on the bond market. 10-yr is at 3.14% and mortgage prices are a shade better than Friday afternoon.

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