Financial Options

A heavy comment spam load at the beginning of last weekend led to a 1-week hiatus and some changes in commenting, notably not all posts will now allow comments and registration is now required to comment. Hopefully that won't be necessary and I can continue providing the weekly roundup of financial and economic indicators. Check back next week as I am hoping to upgrade the format a bit at that point, too.

Each of the upcoming financial items with the exception of Treasury auctions and announcements will be posted here in the Economic Indicators category and linked directly from this post as it becomes available.

Monday, the National Association of Realtors will release the Pending Home Sales Index for January. This leading indicator of existing home sales will get close watch as the housing market continues to send mixed signals and investors continue to be concerned over both the health of the market and its effect on Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Also Monday, the Commerce Department will release Factory Orders for January.

Monday Treasury Schedule: 11 AM Eastern 4-Week T-Bill Announcement, 10-Year Note Announcement; 1 PM Eastern 3-Month T-Bill Auction, 6-Month T-Bill Auction; 3 PM Eastern Treasury STRIPS

Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the revised Productivity and Costs numbers for the 4th Quarter of 2005. Strong productivity growth could alleviate some inflation fears. Also Tuesday, the Federal Reserve releases Consumer Credit data for January.

Tuesday Treasury Schedule: 1 PM Eastern 4-Week T-Bill Auction

Wednesday look for two weekly releases. The Mortgage Bankers Association will release its weekly Mortgage Market Survey, which looks at mortgage rates as well as numbers of new mortgage applications. The Energy Information Administration will release its weekly Petroleum Status Report and This Week in Petroleum.

Thursday, Monster releases its Monster Employment Index for February which charts online help wanted advertising across 1500 websites. The Commerce Department will release International Trade figures for January. The Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor will release its weekly Jobless Claims report. Also Thursday, the Bank of England's monetary policy committee will make its monthly interest rate announcement.

Thursday Treasury Schedule: 11 AM Eastern 3-Month T-Bill Announcement, 6-Month T-Bill Announcement, 1 PM Eastern 10-Year Note Auction

Friday, the Labor Department will issue the monthly Employment Report for February, Commerce Department will release its report on Wholesale Trade for January and the Treasury Deparment will release federal budget figures for February. The budget figures are sure to get close scrutiny following the larger than expected budget surpluses in December and January.