US DATA: Initial jobless claims -22k to 391k in Feb. 19 wk, well
below expectations of 405k, back around to the lows at the beginning of
the month. Labor analyst points to 4 wk-moving ave which is -16.5k to
402k, approaching that 400k level below which unempl is seen to improve.
The last time the 4-wk was below 400k was July 26,’08. Continuing claims
-145k to 3,790,000; that’s -219k below the previous survey wk Jan 15 and
the lowest since Oct. 18 wk, 2008. Calif partially estimated and Hawaii,
Massachusetts and Oklahoma fully estimated. Actual NSA claims -40,404 to
383,998.