Rates inched higher Thursday as stronger than expected economic data boosted stocks and hurt mortgage-backed securities. This morning, weekly Jobless Claims fell to 335,000, far below forecast, to the lowest level in five years. December Housing Starts jumped 12% to 954,000 annual units, easily beating expectations. The Philadelphia Fed index, a survey of manufacturers in the region, declined unexpectedly to -5.8. Readings below zero indicate contraction in the manufacturing sector. No other key data will be released today.