Category Archives for "Mortgage Industry News"
An innovative repayment scheme for federal student loans could potentially offer borrowers a double benefit: it’s not only more budget-friendly but also could smooth the path to homeownership.
Continue readingMonday essentially served as a pause in the larger picture, a sentiment that was prevalent over much of the preceding week. The Federal Reserve in tandem with the marketplace are on standby, observing whether there’s a need to tweak their predictions related to the path of interest rates. Amidst the plethora of reports, a select few have the potential to sculpt the trend for succeeding weeks. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) headlines that pack, with the imminent release set to be the principal substantial figures unveiled since the employment report. The lure to fashion an accurate prediction for a slightly better or poorer outcome is always present, a feeling that is mirrored by several other stakeholders and professional predictors. The cumulative impact results in a market whose pricing mirrors perfection based on the forecasted consensus. The gist translates to the fact that the ball is in anyone’s court come Tuesday morning as we are certain about the magnitude of the reaction, but uncertain about its direction.
Recap of Market Movements
At 10:09 AM, there hasn’t been any significant data or market influencers so far, with Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) witnessing a slight increase of one tick (0.03), while the 10-year treasury note experienced a minor rise of 0.4 basis points at 4.181.
As of 11:58 AM, a minor slump was observed towards 11 am, however, stability seems to be returning. Both MBS and treasuries remain in sync with the previous update.
By 02:27 PM, there were gains leading up to 2 pm followed by a slight pullback. MBS saw an increase of 3 ticks (.09) and the 10-year treasury note declined by 1.1 basis points to stand at 4.166.
Continue readingFollowing a surge to its peak in over a month, interest rates have remained remarkably constant since last Tuesday. This stability emerged after a moderate rebound which lowered the average standard 30-year fixed rate just below 7% from slightly above. To provide some context, this rate experienced a 0.41% increase from Thursday, February 1 to Monday, February 5. A considerable adjustment of 0.08% took place the next day, but since then, the daily shifts have been capped at 0.02%. Prospects of altering this still, horizontal trend rest on Tuesday’s morning announcement of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI represents the most significant monthly inflation report and is one of the top two crucial economic announcements (the other is the employment report that sparked the 0.41% increase a little over a week ago). The impact of the CPI on rates is uncertain – it could potentially cause them to either increase or decrease swiftly. It’s important to note that the market is already aware of 11 of the 12 months used for the annual calculation, hence no surprises are expected with the headline inflation falling from 3.4% to just below 3%, or even if the core inflation reduces to 3.7% from 3.9%. Its notable that 3.7% is still much higher than the target of 2.0%. The primary consideration is the “core” month-on-month number, which currently stands at 0.3%. A figure of 0.2% or below will probably lead to better rates, while 0.4% or above could push rates higher.
Continue readingHave you ever delved into the realm of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? It’s been a hot topic, especially with a lack of other compelling scheduled data/events on the horizon, apart from the occasional jobs report or Federal Reserve news. However, the latter topics are still a month out, whereas the CPI is set to be revealed bright and early tomorrow. It’s particularly intriguing given the recent dip in the bond market. Presently, yields are precariously perched right at the brink of 2024’s peak – will it prove to be a barrier or perhaps a blockade? Regardless of its form, it serves as the final safeguard against adverse forces. Even if circumstances seem dire today (for instance, should yields increase beyond 4.19%), the true outcome won’t become apparent until tomorrow’s events unfold.
Continue readingThe conclusion of the previous week saw a noteworthy fluctuation in daily mortgage rates as depicted by the article titled “Rates Right in Line With Long-Term Lows, But That Could Change on Friday.” As it turned out, rates escalated dramatically, marking the most sizable increase in over a year. The rise in rates wasn’t foreseen through fortune-telling or random prediction, but a calculated inference that rates had an equal likelihood of moving drastically in either direction. The determinants were two critical monthly economic reports, with their contents triggering changes in rates. The report that instigated this transformation was the employment scenario, commonly referred to as “the jobs report,” commonly influencing mortgage rates. Another report set to have a similar potential influence is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to be released the next Tuesday. While it’s unlikely these rates would plummet as dramatically as they spiked, a reduction in the CPI could turn favorably for rates. On the other hand, an increased CPI might induce a rapid ascension in rates, though perhaps not at the speed seen last Friday. Terms like “probability” and “potential” are used due to the unpredictable nature of how the data might unfold.
Continue readingSummary:
There was repetitive bouncing of the 10-year Treasury yields at the 4.19% technical mark on a given day. Given the significance of this particular level recently, a thrilling or eventful intraday trading narrative could potentially be anticipated. The early morning trade related to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) seasonal adjustments might provide some ground for this argument, but this was a brief occurrence and had no connection to the 4.19% level. The remainder of the day saw the market creep sideways just shy of that cap. Due to the monthly Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security (UMBS) 30-year settlement process, MBS slightly outperformed Treasuries, though it’s unpredictable whether this is a positive or negative factor (but was beneficial this time).
Employment Data / Occurrences
Unemployment Claims
Reported: 218k, Predicted: 220k, Previous: 227k
Market Activity Summary
10:07 AM – Some unevenness following CPI adjustments, with real selling occurring between 9:20 and 9:30 AM Eastern Time. Levels remain underneath the 4.19% limit, currently at 4.177, an increase of 1.9 basis points. Meanwhile, MBS has seen a decrease of 3 ticks (.09).
01:15 PM – Market performance improving. MBS remain down by 3 ticks (.09). 10-year yields have increased 2.3 basis points to 4.181.
03:25 PM – Steadily moving towards a less negative outcome. MBS dropped just 2 ticks (.06) and 10-year yields up 1.9 basis points at 4.177.
Continue readingThe Consumer Price Index (CPI), a crucial economic indicator, typically gains attention after job reports are published. The pattern usually alternates between the release of these two reports. The latest job report was disseminated last week, with the upcoming CPI announcement expected next Tuesday. However, CPI has unexpectedly made headlines today. This stems from the fact that CPI is subject to seasonal adjustments, designed to facilitate easier interpretation of the data. Such patterns, however, may vary over time due to multiple reasons. To keep the adjustments pertinent, periodic updates are conducted. An update was implemented today, affecting previous CPI releases. This development is relatively inconsequential compared to the importance of next week’s release, which will provide the most recent data.
Continue readingMarc Lipschultz, the co-founder and joint CEO of Blue Owl, recently participated in a dialogue on ‘Money Movers’. The conversation revolved around the contemporary market situation for private credit, the implications for Blue Owl as banks make a return to the lending sector, among other topics of financial interest.
Continue readingEarning a large income often requires more work than quick tricks might suggest. In terms of wealth creation, property ownership continues to be a profitable strategy, with over 85 percent of metropolitan markets experiencing growth in home prices in the last quarter of 2023, as indicated by the National Association of Realtors. Their recent quarterly assessment showed that double-digit price rises occurred in fifteen percent of the 221 monitored metropolitan areas, an increase from 11 percent in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, Curinos reported a 3 percent yearly increase in mortgage volume for January 2024, a slide of 4 percent from the prior month. The average retail funded rate for 30-year conforming loans in the same month was 6.86%, a reduction of 39bps from December, and a 47bps increase from a year ago. These key figures are generated by Curinos, utilizing substantial data directly sourced from lenders. Lenders and brokers can leverage various software, products, and services to optimize their business operations, such as Loan Vision and LV-PAM for profitable general ledger management. Users of Loan Vision report significant improvements in efficiency and profitability, including a decrease of more than 30% in days to close books, over 20% reduction in accounting staff, complete automation of loan origination system to general ledger, and enhanced reporting and visibility. Reach out to Carl Wooloff to discover how Loan Vision could boost your business performance.
Continue readingIt’s not unusual for the bond market to experience a sluggish period in a week that falls between major economic data releases. Last Friday’s unfavorable NFP figures could spell trouble for rates, unless the CPI report due next week turns the tide. Amid these key reports, it’s an opportune moment for investors to play the waiting game. There’s not much on the agenda that requires immediate attention until next Tuesday, at 8:30am ET.
In terms of economic data and events, jobless claims recorded 218k, which is lower than the anticipated 220k, and down from the previous 227k.
In the market recap:
– The day started off weak, primarily driven by losses in the European sector. Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) dropped 5 points (.16), and 10-year bonds increased 2bps to 4.135 at 8:20 AM.
– By 10:47 AM, the weakening trend persisted with MBS dipping 7 points and 10-year bonds climbing 4bps to 4.154.
– However, by mid-morning the market flattened, with MBS down 5 points (.16) and 10-year bonds up 4.5bps at 4.16% at 12:49 PM.
– Following a slightly stronger 30-year bond auction, there was a notable reaction in the Treasuries. By 1:08 PM, 10-year bonds were only up 2.7bps to 4.142. MBS lost an eighth of a point.