interest rate

Mortgage Rate Update 12/4/09

December 4, 2009

It was a tough week for mortgage markets after performing very well for several weeks. Surprisingly strong economic data and a better than expected economic outlook from the Fed ramped up concerns about inflation. Those concerns resulted in higher yields and higher mortgage rates during the week. Unemployment took center stage this week; after forecasting [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 11/27/09

November 27, 2009

A combination of factors helped mortgage rates improve yet again during the short Thanksgiving week. Strong demand for the Treasury auctions, low inflation, and a fragile economy were all positive for mortgage markets. As a result, mortgage rates dropped to the lowest levels since January. The consensus economic outlook is for a gradual recovery with [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 11/20/09

November 21, 2009

A highly anticipated speech on Monday by Fed Chief Bernanke on the economic outlook revealed no change in the Fed’s stance on short-term monetary policy. There were also few surprises in the economic data released during the week. The monthly inflation readings continued to show that inflation is not a cause for concern in the [...]

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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 10/23/09

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 10/10/09

October 10, 2009

With a light schedule of economic data, Treasury auctions and comments from Fed officials were the primary influences on mortgage rates this week. Strong auction results on Tuesday and Wednesday pushed mortgage rates to the lowest levels seen in months. The final auction on Thursday, however, saw much weaker demand. Reacting to this, along with [...]

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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 9/4/09

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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Mortgage Rate Update 8/28/09

August 29, 2009

There were few surprises in the economic data released this week, and the record $109 billion in Treasury auctions went smoothly. As a result, it was a quiet week for mortgage markets. This week’s economic data showed signs that the economy is gradually improving, while inflation is not a concern right now. Demand remained solid [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 8/21/09

August 24, 2009

Strong manufacturing and housing sector data contributed to a rally in the stock market this week. This would ordinarily push mortgage rates higher, but the strong economic news was offset by tame PPI inflation data and a significant increase in Fed purchases of mortgage-backed securities (MBS), leading to a small decline in mortgage rates during [...]

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