Kevin Flanagan Numbers Quotations

The sentiment is not as enthusiastic as it was early this week. Investors are starting to realize that if the (economic) numbers continue to come in on the strong side, the Fed is going to tighten (credit) again.

The numbers in of themselves are sort of a push-and-pull. And the market, based on that, isn't doing a whole lot.

The market had gotten itself into a position where the thought process was the economy was cooling off a bit and the Fed was close to being done raising interest rates. These numbers threw a wrench into the works.

The Fed may pause even if the risks aren't balanced. He is trying to tell you that we will still pause even if the numbers come in as they have so far this year.

The claims numbers don't do anything to support the Treasury market, nor are they ground breaking either. The 10-year's price is a couple of ticks lower since the report.

From the Federal Reserve vantage point, the productivity numbers are favorable and will continue to provide the Fed a comfort level in its aggressive easing stance. There's no mistaking we're closer to the end of that cycle, but numbers like this will help to alleviate these anxieties.