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* Strange trading days... * U.K. Retail Sales surprise.... * Norway's GDP prints strong! * A CDO lesson... ** Fannie and Freddie Back In The News... Good day... And a Tub Thumpin' Thursday to you! Don't know why... I just felt like it should be a Tub Thumpin' Thursday! I hit the wall yesterday, as I went home, and fell asleep at 3 o'clock, and didn't wake up till night time! Watched a few innings of my beloved Cardinals, wanted desperately to stay up and watch the May-Walsh beach volleyball game, but went right back to bed! So... I should be rested, eh? One would think so, but with the treatments I take, they just simply wipe me out! But... Hey! I always said that sleep was the greatest thing... I just get to enjoy more of it, right? OK... Another day of strange trading... As I signed off yesterday, the euro had given up it's previous day's gains, but found some terra firma at 1.47 and then rallied in the afternoon... If you guess right, as I have not done so this week, you can catch a great price to sell, and buy, all in the same day!...

* US consumers come to the rescue of the $... * European data comes in negative... * Currencies down under take a hit... * Goldman suggests investments in Norway... ** US consumers come to the rescue of the dollar... Good day... The dollar bulls took control of the currency markets yesterday after the US consumer confidence numbers looked slightly less awful than expected. The better than expected confidence number caused the dollar to jump over one and a half cents vs. the Euro and close to 1% vs. the NZD$. The gain by the US$ was the biggest one day move in almost two months. Chuck, who is enjoying a much deserved break this week, sent me his thoughts on this dramatic move by the dollar: "It sure looks like the markets once again, took the bait hook, line and sinker yesterday... I mean, Consumer Confidence rises from a deep dark abyss, and the markets were singing, ding, dong the witch is dead, ding dong the wicked witch is dead. The wicked witch here is the bear and what it's done to the markets this year. Since November, stocks have lost plenty of ground, and I for one truly suspect there will be more losses in the days ahead. But... Not yesterday, and not a losing day for the dollar either! Probably the best 1 day performance I've seen in the dollar in some time......

* Fed leaves rates unchanged... * A dovish tone to the Fed... * Dollar Bulls run for the hills! * Norway raises rates... ** "Somewhat Receded"? Good day... And a Tub Thumpin' Thursday to you! Well... If you are a non-dollar owner, you might want to quickly go to the currency round-up to check on your currency / currencies... The Fed left rates unchanged and were quite dovish in their statement, and the dollar has been sent to the woodshed... Welcome back! Front and Center this morning, we have a currency rally going on, with the euro leading the dogs off the porch to chase the dollar down the street. The single unit has pushed past the 1.57 handle this morning, and the high yielders of Aussie, kiwi, and Brazil are all dancing in the streets because their positive rate differentials are even more in the face of traders now....