Mortgage Blog

Rate Update May 27, 2008

Inflation, inflation, inflation seems to be popping up everywhere. This morning’s monthly consumer confidence report showed that consumer confidence sunk to a 16 year low. Ordinarily bad economic news would help mortgage rates but this morning it’s not the case. Watch today’s you tube video to understand why. Here are a couple other links that […]

Rate Update May 22, 2008

As oil prices continue to hit new record highs inflation concerns are again weighing on bond prices which is pushing rates higher. In yesterday’s rate update we said: “However, we remain concerned that continued inflation concerns will drag bond prices below these levels pushing rates higher.” Unfortunately we are going to shift our outlook to […]

Rate Update May 21, 2008

There is no new economic data scheduled for release today. At 2PM EST the Fed will release the minutes from their April 30th meeting. Sometimes this event can draw some reaction in the financial markets. In the absence of any significant financial news we will be watching the stock market and technical trading patterns for […]

Rate Update May 20, 2008

We mentioned in yesterday’s rate update that stocks may come under selling pressure because of technical trading patterns. Indeed that is happening this morning which is supporting mortgage-backed bond prices. Rates are modestly lower. The technical trading picture for mortgage-backed bonds is complicated. We are going to recommend a locking stance for individuals who want […]

Inflation pressures

If you’ve been a consistent reader of ‘rate update’ or this blog you know that inflation expectations are the primary factor for driving mortgage rates. When expectations of inflation increase it causes rates to rise and vice versa. There are two articles published this morning which give contradictory forecasts for inflation. It just goes to […]

Rate Update May 19, 2008

There is not much in the way of economic data scheduled to be released this week so we’ll be watching technical trading patterns and the stock market for clues on the direction of mortgage rates. Stocks are currently trading up against technical resistance. Should the stock market reverse from recent highs we could see mortgage […]

Rate Update May 16, 2008

Mortgage rates have improved modestly from yesterday’s levels thanks to the technical support. Bond prices have now regained the levels they reached a week ago today. We are shifting our outlook to a neutral focus after being in a floating stance the past few days. Current Outlook: neutral

Rate Update May 15, 2008

Mortgage-backed bonds have found technical trading support at the 200-day moving average (blue line in the chart below). After rates increased by .25%-.375% over the previous four trading days it looks like bond prices may rise helping push rates back down. Watch today’s you tube video for explanation about this chart. Current Outlook: floating

Rate Update May 14, 2008

Mortgage-rates have now increased by .25%-.375% since we shifted our outlook to locking on Friday, May 9th. The cause of the rate increase has been strength in the stock market and worse than expected inflation data. However, this morning’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report may help rates reverse course. The monthly report which is an […]