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There are urban legends about one of those cliche old "shut-in's." This particular old hag used to be beautiful and popular and successful once upon a time. But she's degenerated to such a state that this halloween, she doesn't even need to put on a costume to scare the children!

No one knows her name, but the initials M.B.S. hang above her door. In recent weeks, many have tried to appease her, feeling that if she were doing a little better mentally that the rest of the neighborhood would be better off. But every time someone has tried to do something nice, she has taken it as an insult and sunk further into her sociopathic shell. It's been very hard for the neighbors and town leaders to figure out what they can do to improve her mood, but they're running out of options.

Why even yesterday, the town treasurer lowered her short term credit card payments by .5% and she didn't even care!

So it was with great apprehension that we approached her door today (we trick or treat early!). Bracing for the worst, the sight of her twisted and contorted visage, the smell of her toxicity, and her evil attack cats, we knocked on the door.

But something unexpected happened next... In a lovely, high pitched, and jovial voice, we heard what surely could not be Madame MBS call from what seemed like the top of the stairs. "Coming, My dears!! I have some nice treats for you!!"

This certainly is a surprise. She's a slow walker, so at this rate, it could take all day to get to the door, but still, we are wondering if her amicable mood holds until she does. Perhaps this halloween will hold the unexpected treat from Old Lady MBS.

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6.0's are up 11+ ticks to 100-07

5.5's are up 15 ticks to 98-00

6.5's are up 10+ ticks to 101-16

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Tons of data on Tap:

  • Personal Income & Outlays,
    • Est. .1% increase down from .5%
  • Employment Cost Index,
    • Est. hold steady at +.7
  • Core PCE
    • YoY, est down .1 to 2.5 (getting nearer to the Fed's inflation comfort zone)
  • Chicago PMI
    • Est down to 48.0 from last reading of 56.7
  • Consumer Sentiment
    • Est to hold steady at 57.5, dead even from last month. (i guess we'll be able to put that whole "positive correlation with consumer confidence" theory to the test!!!!!)

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Stay tuned folks!!! If the data adds to our momentum, this could be one of our best halloween hauls in quite some time!

(and if it is, we'll probably recommend eating all the candy at once!)