Frank Nothaft
Frank Nothaft
bond dismal economic high highly impending iraq likely market mortgage news pressures rates remain resolution rise sent since stock sustained volatility week within
The escalating tensions within the U.N. over the impending resolution on Iraq and dismal economic news this week sent the stock market tumbling and with it went bond and mortgage rates. The high volatility is likely to remain for a while. But since there are no upward pressures at the moment, any sustained rise in rates in highly unlikely.
discern economy fairly financial growing growth markets mortgage quickly rates remained stable tried week
Mortgage rates remained fairly stable this week as the financial markets tried to discern just how quickly the economy is growing and how sustainable that growth will be.
consumer deflation economy housing indicate leading pick price ready released reports starts stronger suggesting together week
The Consumer Price Index released this week showed no decline, suggesting that the possibility of deflation is still low. Housing starts were stronger than expected, as were the leading indicators released today. All of these reports together could indicate the economy is ready to pick up growth.
bit economic employment february figures interest mortgage news pressure puts rates suggested week
Mortgage interest rates were up this week on news that February employment figures suggested an economic upturn. That news, however, puts a bit of upward pressure on long-term mortgage rates.
activity holiday mortgage move rates week
There was little activity during this holiday week to move mortgage rates one way or another,
confidence consumer fell growth hit keeping less lower means mortgage rates report result slower spending week year
Mortgage rates fell this week as a result of the Consumer Confidence report , which hit a 4-1/2 year low. Lower confidence translates into slower consumer spending. Less spending means less growth, and less growth means less inflationary pressure, keeping mortgage rates affordable.
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There was no news this week that would drive mortgage rates in one direction or the other. Therefore, mortgage rates didn't have much reason to move a lot, staying below 7 percent for the second week running.
based cause currently higher highest housing january market occurred rates starts week
That said, January housing starts were the highest in over 20 years, and that is based on higher rates than we are currently experiencing, ... All in all, the little run-up in rates that occurred this week will not be enough to cause a significant slowdown in current housing market activity.
bias diminished financial following iraqi large markets mortgage seem shifted
Following the onset of the Iraqi conflict, financial markets seem to have an upward bias for mortgage rates. However, that's not to say that uncertainty has diminished in any large way, but that it has shifted to a different set of unknowns.
compared consumer credit employment growth helped higher highest interest january jump level mortgage push rates since strength unexpected
The strength in employment growth and an unexpected jump in consumer credit in January helped push mortgage rates a little higher this week. While long-term interest rates are at the highest level since May of 1998, they are still very affordable, particularly when compared to the 1970s and 1980s.
combined confidence consumer continue housing low market prosper rates strong summer
Low rates combined with the up-tick in consumer confidence are strong indications that the housing market will continue to prosper into the summer months,
causing currently due economic exactly focusing good market mortgage next pressure rates rebound recovery remains six strong volatility within
Currently the market is focusing on an anticipated economic recovery within the next six months. That focus put some upward pressure on mortgage rates this week, causing them to rise. There remains good volatility though, due to market speculation over exactly when and how strong the rebound will be.
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Mortgage rates continued to set records. Interest rates remain the lowest in Freddie Mac history; indeed, they are the lowest we have seen since 1967.
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Anticipation that the Federal Reserve may well cut rates at its next meeting, combined with further weakness in certain sectors of the economy, caused interest rates to fall again.