Quick Overview

• The Institute of Supply Managements' index of U.S. services increased from 50.5 to 53.0 in February --the highest since December of 2007.
  

• The Mortgage Bankers Association said U.S. Mortgage applications rose 14.6% last week.
  

• Australia's GDP rose 0.9% in Q4 of 2009 and up 2.7% YoY
  

• An index of services in the U.K. rose from 54.5 to 58.4
  

• YoY container volumes on the transpacific eastbound trade from Asia to the US fell by 15.3% in 2009 to 10.1 million TEU
  

• The International Cocoa Organization expects world production of cocoa to fall short of consumption by 18,000 tons in 2009-2010.
  

• The U.S. DOE said:
  Supplies of crude oil rose 4.1 million barrels last week to 341.6 million barrels.
  Supplies of gasoline rose 700,000 barrels
  Supplies of heating oil fell 400,000 barrels.
  Refinery use rose from 81.2% to 81.9%
  Gasoline demand rose 0.1% YoY
  Distillate demand fell 4.8% YoY.