Treasuries fell Friday but remained on course for a third straight weekly gain, with benchmark yields near the lowest levels since early May. Traders squared their positions to start the session, pushing yields up and snapping a five-day rally. Inflation gauges in US economic data were firmer than expected, leading traders to pare bets on […]
Fed-driven bond rally stalls with yields lowest since May Read More »
Analysts, economists and mortgage professionals are coining this quarter’s activity as one of the most “calm” periods for mortgage rates in recent memory. It follows nearly three years of borrowers being sidelined by higher rates or “stuck” in loans with historically low rates. BTIG analysts said Wednesday that despite Treasury volatility in April, mortgage rates
Stable mortgage rate environment reshapes how LOs engage with borrowers Read More »
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg The U.S. economy slowed faster than previously realized, according to the latest revision to the government’s gross domestic product estimate. Overall, the GDP’s rate of contraction was lowered by 30 basis points, from an annualized rate of -0.2% to -0.5%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ latest report, released Thursday. This is
First-quarter GDP revised lower; Fed has other data on deck Read More »
President Trump has started Operation Shadow Fed President, with news breaking Wednesday night that he has identified several candidates for the next Federal Reserve chairman. Under this strategy, the president selects a new Federal Reserve chair well before they can officially assume the role and they communicate new Fed policy to the markets, which undermines
Trump initiates plan to install a shadow Fed president Read More »
During a second straight day of testimony on Capitol Hill, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank is reviewing the Basel III rules (also known as the “Basel Endgame”), which would significantly increase bank capital requirements and could impact the mortgage industry, if implemented. Powell’s statement comes as the Fed prepares to vote
Powell: Fed is reviewing Basel III, supplemental leverage ratio rules Read More »
The Federal Reserve has come under renewed fire from the Trump administration in recent weeks as the president and key housing officials battle with Chair Jerome Powell over the direction of interest rates. On Tuesday, while speaking to members of the House Financial Services Committee, Powell was resolute that the central bank will continue its
Jerome Powell says the Fed isn’t budging on interest rates Read More »
Global tensions between the United States and Iran have led many in the mortgage industry to wonder whether the bombing of Iran nuclear sites would move bond yields and lead to a drop in mortgage rates. On Monday, just as economists were factoring in the possibility of war with Iran, at least one member of
The mortgage market hopes for rate cuts amid war moves Read More »
After the weekend’s global events, many expected that the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities would influence bond yields, either up or down, today. However, the real surprise came from Michelle Bowman, Federal Reserve Vice Chair of Supervision, who talked about a potential rate cut in July. In a speech she gave at a research conference
Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman supports July interest rate cut Read More »
On Saturday night, the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites, sending shockwaves around the world and leading people to ask me what this means for mortgage rates. This type of global event can lead to significant market movements in oil prices, the U.S. dollar and the 10-year yield in the short term. However, this year, we’ve
How will mortgage rates react to US bombing of Iran? Read More »
Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said he expects Donald Trump to name a mainstream candidate to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, despite the president’s bashing of the U.S. central bank leader for failing to cut interest rates this yearBloomberg News Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said he expects Donald Trump to name a mainstream
Summers sees Trump naming ‘respected’ replacement for Powell Read More »