US Mid-Morning Recap by TradeTheNews Staff - Treasury futures have maintained a somewhat positive tone post NFP, with the payroll data seen as a wash as a lower than expected reading in Jan. was offset by an upward revision in Dec. However, bond traders found reason to cheer the unemployment rate, which edged up to 4.6% in Jan. from 4.5%, and average weekly earnings, which came in below expectations at +0.2%. Treasuries received a further boost at 9:20 a.m. after a major wire reported that the ECB is likely to hike rates in Feb. but could wait until Mar. and that ECB policy is open after the next rate hike. Bund futures rallied on the news and Treasuries rose in sympathy. The 30Y future is up 6 ticks at 110 11/32, the 10Y future is rising 5 ticks to 106 27/32 and the 2Y future is up 1 tick at 101 25/32. The full plate of data and ECB speak really put a jolt into the currency markets as well as Gold. The EUR/USD ticked higher into the NFP number but has since reversed some 100 pips now trading at 1.2971. April Gold futures have reversed some $13 from earlier highs moving back below $650. Copper continues to be under pressure with the March contract making new 10-month lows at $2.38. - Equity futures pushed to overnight highs in initial reaction to this morningâs data but quickly gave back gains have since stayed close to the unchanged level along with the major Indices. Many of the homebuilding stocks are pushing higher for the third straight session. TOL +3.3% RYL +4.5% BZH +2.5% DHI +3% NYSE Securities is giving back more than 2% after reporting which has NDAQ down 1.5% in sympathy. ICE is adding 3% after reporting January volume statistics. Stocks moving after earnings reports include: ERTS +5% CA +7% CERN +7.5 HAIN +2.4% SCUR +24% YRCW â3% BKHM â18% COHU â5% DIGE â5% ILMN â10% RACK â18% ERIC â7% AMZN â3.5% - Energy futures are consolidating today after posting solid gains for the week. Forecasts of cold temperatures are providing support as well as OPEC cuts and EIA demand data from Wed., which showed sharp gains in distillate and total petroleum demand (+10.5% and +2.45%, respectively) in the latest week. Additionally, there was news regarding Iran that Iran has begun putting down piping and electric cables for its underground enrichment plant. A diplomat accredited to the IAEA said hundreds of technicians and laborers were working feverishly at the Natanz underground facility. U.S. Defense Secretary, Gates, said today that the U.S. is not planning a war against Iran. Crude futures are down $0.03 at $57.26, heating oil futures are down 1.7 cents at 164.25 and natural gas is lower by $0.05 at $7.488.