Market Analysis

Today rates are inching up on a report that Factory Orders for February rose for the first time in 6 months.  Analysts had been expecting an increase but the actual # of a 1.8% increase exceeded analyst's projections of 1.5%.  Also orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft jumped 7.1% after having declined 12.3% in January.  There is growing hope that the worst of the recession may be behind us even though employment figures remain dismal.  Employment recovery is expected to trail economic recovery.  In other news the European Central Bank dropped their rates less than analysts had been expecting and oil futures are up to over $50 a barrel again.

There is an interesting map on CNN which gives projections of what home values will do by major city.  You will need to use the + option on the left hand side of the map to get the different cities in Tx to be visible.  Here is a link to the map:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_realestate/2009/maps/states.html