US ECONOMY from Jerry

A bigger concern is that the mortgage backed security market is very illiquid now which means lenders who would have sold their loans and buyers of these securities are unable to sell them. The overall US housing market is not growing and in certain parts of the US, foreclosures are up as home owners are no longer able to refinance or sell their home above their mortgage. However, the US economy is actually doing fine.

In the silicon valley, employment levels are high. The US housing market has been in a bubble for some time, cheap money with loose credit, meaning people who shouldn't normally qualify did and now are losing their homes. As a % of total home mortgages, it still is relatively small but has been trending up which has spooked the market and led to illiliquidity in that market.

It has had little to no impact on the tech market other than debt financing is tightening. The Fed reduced rates 50 bps last month. We expect further reductions over the next year. This isn't good for savers but will be good for borrowers.