This is a positive report if one’s thinking extends no further than today.

Quick takes on key economic data, Greece debt deal, U.S. earnings.

Rates drop back to record lows after Fed says it’ll hold overnight rates near-zero until late 2014.

FOMC meeting starts today. Weekly retail sales reading down.

Politics makes for some incredibly bad fiscal policy. Bad fiscal policy creates bad monetary policy.

Rates started the day up, but have since dropped. Here’s why.

Slowing retail sales temper 4Q GDP expectations. Plus rest of today’s stats, and Fed meeting preview.

Jobs -ADP Private jobs for October +110,000 -Previous was +91,000 vs. consensus of 100,000 -Full report

Rates were even to end last week after +/- .25% daily swings, and are still up .25% from all-time record lows set October 3-4. Another huge week ahead: Fed and ECB rate meetings, October jobs report, lots more earnings, and Europe’s debt crisis slogs on.

Rates rose .25% last week as mortgage bonds sold 4 of 5 days on (weak but) better than expected economic data. Rates rise when bonds sell, and rates have now risen to lose the entire dip that came after the Fed’s September 21 commitment to keep rates low.