These indicators are suggesting a pickup in economic activity over the next few months now that the monetary constraint on growth has been lifted. Hooray.

Consumer sentiment about job prospects over the next six months dipped in January. Thus, not only are the indicators suggesting modest gains in hiring, but consumers also do not think more new jobs will start opening up this spring.

It's growing rapidly, and it does suggest that we're going to see at least a temporary pickup in economic activity.

Our indicators are not even close to suggesting such lofty returns.

Company and economic performance in Japan is still disappointing and bank lending over there is retracting. This is a swell of money into the yen, but at this point I think it's a very speculative swell.

Company and economic performance in Japan is still disappointing and bank lending over there is retracting, ... This is a swell of money into the yen, but at this point I think it's a very speculative swell.