GOOD MORNING! Treasury yields ended narrowly mixed on Thursday with the curve flatter as longer maturities saw their yields inch down while yields in the short-to-intermediate sector held steady in a low volume day. Supporting the long-end was the ongoing decline in energy prices. The West Texas Intermediate futures contract has slipped 8% so far this week. Pressuring oil is OPEC+ planning to increase production. Stocks also churned but the love for tech, AI and chips had the benchmark equity indices reaching for and getting new record highs.
     
     Chicago Fed President Goolsby said yesterday that the central bank was flying blind without economic data in the government shutdown. So are the markets. In addition to missing the timely, weekly jobless claims data, the markets will also miss the normally much anticipated monthly employment report. With no worrisome employment report to show cracks in the labor market to worry about, stock index futures can extend their up move on AI optimism. The early risk-on mood is keeping Treasuries steady. The privately released data train will continue to move with the S&P Global Group and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) releasing the service sector and composite Purchasing Managers Indexes (PMIs). There is also a parade of talking Fedheads to finish the week.