- Economic news continues to improve. Today the latest durable goods orders data and new home sales figures both turned out to be better than expected.
- Strange day in the market, as the early buying was met with big selling and then a swoosh up late in the session. Internals not so good today.
- The average rate for traditional, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dipped last week to 4.63 percent from 4.89 percent a week earlier, according to the MBA report. The average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages slipped to 4.48 percent from 4.52 percent a week earlier, while the average rate for one-year adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 6.22 percent from 6.20 percent.
- Hybrid car news? New 2010 Toyota Prius worth a look - over 50 mpg. That mileage will come in handy when gas goes back near $5 a gallon as world economies improve and fuel demand increases. Maybe that's what I'll get when I ditch the sports car. Go Green. Not sure what the new Prius will cost, but keep an eye out in May.
- Hyundai coming out with BLUE-WILL soon, too. Of course, Ford Fusion hybrid out for the "buy American" folks.
- Tim Geithner sends dollar on roller coaster ride. So, China talks about a new global currency. Giethner causes a 1% plunge almost immediately when commenting, "I haven't read the entire proposal," Geithner said. "But the governor is a sensible man [and] anything he says deserves consideration." As for "increasing the IMF drawing reserves, we are favorable to that."
- Paraphrasing Gary Kaltbaum, I don't think I'd let Tim Geithner run a lemonade stand. What a goofball.
- Shamwow vs. Zorbeez: Which works better? We put the rival rags head-to-head in a spill test of some blueberry beer we had lying around. We also soaked snow puddles and clocked drying times. Who wins? Shamwow. But using blueberry beer that's been "laying around" isn't a good testimonial for the beer.
