Economics, George Bernard Shaw

If all the economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.

- George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

SG: New home sales slumped to a five-month low in July (B. Jones)

Eco Analysis - New home sales slumped to a five-month low in July (B. Jones)

■ Consistent with our expectation, new home sales remained on a downtrend

The Census Bureau reported that the number of new homes going to contract slipped by 0.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 298,000 in July, boosting the cumulative slide since April to 5.7%. Downward adjustments to the previously reported figures for April through June pared the Q2 average by 7,000 to 308,000.

Just a few days more of this debt ceiling (R. Narvas)

Just a few days more of this debt ceiling

The clock continues to tick towards the Treasury's August 2 deadline and we continue to see little progress towards an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. The parties continue to be firmly dug into partisan lines, although the Republicans are looking more fractured. If no deal is done, there is the option of adopting the Reid-McConnell plan proposed last week, but also the atomic bomb of the President invoking the 14th amendment. In the case of a downgrade or default, it seems that the majority of Treasury holders may not be forced sellers. That said, repo markets are already dislocated due to the debt crisis, as players build up cash reserves, preparing for the worst.