MARKET COMMENT Mortgage bond prices ended near unchanged last week keeping mortgage interest rates historically low. The Fed meeting Tuesday went as expected. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged and noted they will keep rates low for an extended period of time. Mortgage rates were positive through the middle portion of the week. Unfortunately stronger than expected data and surging stock prices the latter portion of the week eroded the earlier positive movements. Despite those negative movements rates finished near unchanged overall for the week.
The Treasury auctions will be important this week. If foreign demand for US debt remains strong mortgage interest rates may remain lower. Consumer confidence will set the tone for trading the beginning of the week.
LOOKING AHEAD
- 2-year Treasury Note Auction; Sept. 27; Important. $36 billion of notes will be auctioned. Strong demand may lead to lower mortgage rates.
- Consumer Confidence; Sept. 28; Consensus Estimate 53.9; Important. An indication of consumers’ willingness to spend. Weakness may lead to lower mortgage rates.
- 5-year Treasury Note Auction; Sept. 28; Important. $35 billion of notes will be auctioned. Strong demand may lead to lower mortgage rates.
- 7-year Treasury Note Auction; Sept. 29; Important. $29 billion of notes will be auctioned. Strong demand may lead to lower mortgage rates.
- Q2 GDP 3rd revision; Sept 30; Consensus Estimate Up 1.7%; Important. The aggregate measure of US economic production. Weakness may lead to lower rates.
- Personal Income and Outlays; Oct. 1; Consensus Estimate Up 0.2%, Up 0.3%; Important. A measure of consumers’ ability to spend. Weakness may lead to lower mortgage rates.
- PCE Core Inflation; Oct. 1; Consensus Estimate Up 0.1%; Important. A measure of price increases for all domestic personal consumption. Weakness may lead to lower rates.
- U of Michigan Consumer Sentiment; Oct. 1; Consensus Estimate 67; Important. An indication of consumers’ willingness to spend. Weakness may lead to lower mortgage rates.
- ISM Index; Oct. 1; Consensus Estimate 55.0; Important. A measure of manufacturer sentiment. A large decline may lead to lower mortgage rates.
MARKET CONDITIONS There is a Chinese proverb that states, “May you live in interesting times.” It is often argued that the word interesting is meant to be a synonym for turbulent or dangerous. This phrase hits the bull’s-eye given the current state of the financial markets. While stocks and bonds are swinging around wildly there is some good news. Interest rates for conforming and FHA/VA loans are historically low.
Remember, low rates are not a given considering the uncertainty in the financial markets. Inflation, real or perceived, erodes the value of bonds causing bond prices to fall and rates to rise. The last thing the economy needs now is higher mortgage interest rates. If inflation emerges that very well may happen despite the continued Fed efforts to keep rates low. With so much uncertainty, a cautious approach to float lock decisions, especially heading into the inflation data this week, would be wise.
Source: Courtesy of Todd Kabel, US Bank, Nashville, Tennessee
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Market Comment for Week of September 27, 2010…
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MARKET COMMENT Mortgage bond prices ended near unchanged last week keeping mortgage interest rates historically low. The Fed meeting Tuesday went as expected. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged and noted they will keep rates low for an extended period of time. Mortgage rates were positive through the middle portion of the week. Unfortunately stronger than expected data and surging stock prices the latter portion of the week eroded the earlier positive movements. Despite those negative movements rates finished near unchanged overall for the week.
The Treasury auctions will be important this week. If foreign demand for US debt remains strong mortgage interest rates may remain lower. Consumer confidence will set the tone for trading the beginning of the week.
LOOKING AHEAD
MARKET CONDITIONS There is a Chinese proverb that states, “May you live in interesting times.” It is often argued that the word interesting is meant to be a synonym for turbulent or dangerous. This phrase hits the bull’s-eye given the current state of the financial markets. While stocks and bonds are swinging around wildly there is some good news. Interest rates for conforming and FHA/VA loans are historically low.
Remember, low rates are not a given considering the uncertainty in the financial markets. Inflation, real or perceived, erodes the value of bonds causing bond prices to fall and rates to rise. The last thing the economy needs now is higher mortgage interest rates. If inflation emerges that very well may happen despite the continued Fed efforts to keep rates low. With so much uncertainty, a cautious approach to float lock decisions, especially heading into the inflation data this week, would be wise.
Source: Courtesy of Todd Kabel, US Bank, Nashville, Tennessee
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Written by kbargers
September 27, 2010 at 8:07 am
Posted in economy
Tagged with consumer confidence index, economy, fha loans, ism index, kenneth bargers, kennethbargers.com, market comment, market conditions, market report, mortgage bond prices, mortgage interest rates, Nashville, pce core inflation, realtor, september 2010, tennessee, todd kabel, treasury note auctions, us bank, va loans