Rates inched higher Thursday as a rally in stocks pressured mortgage-backed securities. This morning, payroll firm ADP projected an increase of 158,000 private sector jobs in October, slightly above forecast. Third quarter Productivity rose 1.9%, close to expectations. Weekly Jobless Claims fell to 363,000, below the consensus of 370,000. The Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index came in at 51.7. Readings above 50.0 indicate expansion in the manufacturing sector of the economy. Consumer Confidence rose to 72.2, a bit less than expected. Investors are now focusing on tomorrow’s release of the October Employment Report, which comes out at 8:30 AM. No other data will be released today.