The SBA and shrift

Shrift

Confession to a priest. Also, penance and absolution that follow confession.

From Old English scrift (confession, penance), from scrifan (to shrive: to impose penance). Ultimately from the Indo-European root skribh- (to cut, separate, or sift).

The term nowadays is mostly seen in the form "to get short shrift" meaning to receive little consideration or a curt treatment. Originally, short shrift was what condemned criminals received: brief time granted to them for confession and absolution before execution.

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TIP OF THE WEEK 

If you gave all the rules regarding SBA loans short shrift, don’t worry.

SBA has just released another new set of Standard Operating Procedures.

SOP 50-10-5(G) is effective as of October 1st, 2014.  It will remain in effect until the release of SOP 50-10-5(H) followed by SOP 50-10-5(I), SOP 50-10-5(J), SOP 50-10-5(K), SOP 50-10-5(L), SOP 50-10-5(M), SOP 50-10-5(N), SOP 50-10-5(O), SOP 50-10-5(P), SOP 50-10-5(Q), SOP 50-10-5(R), SOP 50-10-5(S), SOP 50-10-5(T), SOP 50-10-5(U), SOP 50-10-5(V), SOP 50-10-5(W), SOP 50-10-5(X), and SOP 50-10-5(Y).  No word on if and when SOP 50-10-5(Z) will ever be released.

Among the changes are Elimination of the Personal Resource Test and clarification of the language concerning the eligibility of businesses such as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, and similar types of businesses.

SBA loan fees also remain at ZERO for loans of $150,000 and less.

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Indices:

PRIME RATE= 3.25%

SBA LIBOR Base Rate October 2014 = 3.15%

SBA Fixed Base Rate October 2014 = 5.35%

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SBA 504 Loan Debenture Rate for September  

The debenture rate is only 2.969% but note rate is 2.69% and the effective yield is 5.002%.

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AHEAD OF THE YIELD CURVE 

Is the bond market giving the economic recovery short shrift?

U.S. Treasury prices surged on Wednesday, as investors thought that the world was coming to an end and sought out safe assets, pushing benchmark yields to their biggest one-day drop in nearly nine months.

The 30-year bond yield plunged 11 basis points to 3.098%.

On Friday, the Commerce Department reported that employment increased by 248,000 in September.

The 30 year bond yield ended up at 3.131%.  

Here is a summary of net payroll employment and this week’s interesting little table of data:

September          248,000

August                 180,000

July                       243,000

June                      288,000

May                       224,000

April                     304,000

March                   203,000

February             222,000

January               144,000

2013     2,074,000

2012     2,193,000

2011      2,103,000

2010     1,022,000

2009     -5,052,000

2008     -3,617,000

2007    1,115,000

2006     2,071,000

2005     2,484,000

2004     2,019,000

What does this mean?

I don’t know.

At the current pace (through September), the economy will add 2.72 million jobs this year (2.64 million private sector jobs). Right now 2014 is on pace to be the best year for both total and private sector job growth since 1999.

Keep your eyes and ears open for Thursday’s auction of the 30 year Treasury bond.

Last month, The Treasury Department sold $13 billion in 30 year bonds at a yield of 3.240%, the highest yield since July.

The long bond yield has dropped more than 50 basis points since the start of the year.  July’s auction sold at a yield of 3.369%.  April’s $13 billion auction of 30 year Treasury bonds sold at a yield of 3.525%.  In March the auction drew a yield of 3.630% compared to February’s yield of 3.69%.  January’s auction sold at a yield of 3.899% compared to December’s 3.90%.  

The gap between shorter- and longer-term Treasury yields narrowed to its smallest since 2009 on Friday, a sign that investors are rethinking the timing of Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes

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OFF BASE

Don’t give short shrift to Columbus Day.

It’s a federally recognized holiday and an excuse for an upcoming three day weekend.

According to the Federal Reserve, here is our remaining holidays for 2014:

Columbus Day October 13
Veterans Day November 11
Thanksgiving Day November 27
Christmas Day December 25