Friday: Consumer sentiment, State Employment and Unemployment

First from Bloomberg: U.S. to sell off some mortgages

A $1.7 billion portfolio of nonperforming, federally insured home loans will be offered for sale at auction next month [on Sept 12th].

The loans will be auctioned in pools consisting of homes in Chicago; Phoenix; Newark, N.J.; and Tampa, Fla. ... the portfolio ... consists of 9,442 loans with an average balance of $182,000, for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

' At 9:55 AM ET, the Reuter's/University of Michigan's Consumer sentiment index (preliminary for August) will be released. The consensus is for sentiment to decrease slightly to 72.0 from 72.3 in July.

' At 10:00 AM, the Conference Board Leading Indicators for August will be released. The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in this index..

' Also at 10:00 AM, the Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) for July 2012 is scheduled to be released.

Earlier on housing starts:
' Housing Starts declined to 746 thousand in July
' Quarterly Housing Starts by Intent compared to New Home Sales
' Comment on Housing, and Starts and Completions
' On Yahoo Daily Ticker: Housing Starts Jump 20% in One Year: Recovery Ahead, Says Bill McBride