Federal Housing Administration

Mortgage Rate Update 11/13/09

November 16, 2009

Since the Fed meeting on Wednesday of last week, mortgage rates have improved a little each day. There was no major economic data released during the week, and even a weak 30-yr Treasury auction on Thursday failed to stall the rally in mortgage markets. As a result, mortgage rates ended the week moderately lower. At [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 11/6/09

November 8, 2009

As expected at its Wednesday meeting, the Fed made no change in the fed funds rate. The statement kept the same language indicating that the Fed will hold rates at extremely low levels for an “extended period.” The Fed reported that economic activity has “continued to pick up” and that the housing market has improved. [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 10/30/09

October 31, 2009

While daily volatility was high this week, mortgage rates ended just slightly lower than last week. The primary factors influencing mortgage rates were offsetting. The economic growth data released this week was stronger than expected, but inflation remained low. While the first two Treasury auctions produced impressive results, the final one was relatively weak. Demand [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 10/23/09

October 23, 2009

There were few major surprises in the economic news this week, and little change in the stock market. While there was a great deal of daily volatility, mortgage rates ended the week unchanged. A flood of housing market data was released during the week, and most of it reflected improvement in the sector. The biggest [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 10/17/09

October 19, 2009

Stronger than expected economic data, solid earnings reports, and upward revisions to the Fed’s growth forecast propelled the Dow stock index above the 10,000 level for the first time since October 2008. However, these same factors were unfavorable for mortgage rates, and they ended the week modestly higher. This week’s economic data mostly surprised to [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 10/2/09

October 3, 2009

After several weeks of economic announcements generally exceeding forecasts, weaker than expected labor and manufacturing data, along with comforting comments from Fed officials about inflation, helped mortgage markets this week. Reacting to the data, investors shifted funds out of the stock market and into bond markets, and mortgage rates ended the week at the lowest [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 9/25/09

September 26, 2009

Favorable news from the Fed, weaker than expected economic data, and strong demand for a record $112 billion in Treasury auctions helped mortgage markets this week. While the daily price movements were often large, mortgage rates ended the week just a little lower. As expected, the Fed made no change in the fed funds rate [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 9/18/09

September 19, 2009

A wide range of major economic data released during the week and comments from the Fed reinforced the consensus outlook for the economy. Economic growth appears to be on track for gradual improvement, while inflation is not a concern in the short-term. With few surprises this week (jumbo loan rates decreased slightly), mortgage rates ended [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 9/11/09

September 11, 2009

In a light week for economic data, the Treasury auctions had the greatest influence on mortgage markets. Strong auction results, particularly for the 30-yr Treasuries, helped mortgage rates move lower during the week. In recent months, mortgage rates have been heavily influenced by concerns about the enormous amount of debt the government needs to issue [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 9/4/09

September 5, 2009

Investor sentiment about the economic recovery fell this week, and the stock market declined. Expectations for slower economic growth are favorable for bond markets, including mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and mortgage rates ended the week a little lower. The important monthly Employment report showed mixed results. Against a consensus forecast for a loss of 225,000 jobs [...]

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