Mortgage

Mortgage Rate Update 4/5/10

April 5, 2010

Stronger than expected Employment data and the end of the Fed’s MBS purchase program were negative for mortgage markets. Mortgage rates ended the week at the highest levels since January. Investors viewed Friday’s Employment report as positive for the economy, which means it was bad news for mortgage markets, and mortgage rates climbed after its [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 1/22/10

January 23, 2010

While the economic data released this week had little impact, mortgage rates were heavily influenced by two big stories. One was an announcement that China will take steps to slow its economic growth and the other was President Obama’s proposed new restrictions on the activities of financial institutions. Both measures are expected to lead to [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 1/8/2010

January 8, 2010

Welcome to the first mortgage rate update of 2010! Over the last few weeks, many economists have been raising their forecasts for economic growth in 2010. The economic data released this week generally did not support this outlook, however, producing some daily volatility. As a result of the weaker than expected data, mortgage rates ended [...]

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Mortgage Rate Update 12/11/09

December 13, 2009

This week’s economic news was mixed for mortgage markets. A speech from Fed Chief Bernanke pushed mortgage rates lower early in the week, but weak results in the Treasury auctions caused them to turn higher again later in the week. In the end, mortgage rates finished with little net change. Despite a stronger than expected [...]

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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 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 10/10/09

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 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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