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Last Week in Review: Headed Back to the Future This past week, the U.S. 10-year Note yield, a proxy for long-term interest rates, climbed back above .80% for the first time since June.  At the same time, mortgage-backed security prices, which determine home loan rates, declined to their lowest level since July, pushing mortgage rates […]

Last Week in Review: Europe Pain is Bonds Gain U.S. Bond Market = Safe Haven Last week, investment dollars around the globe flooded into the U.S. Treasury market as a "safe haven" against growing uncertainty in Europe. Germany, France, and other European countries are seeing record levels of COVID-19 cases and have to decide on […]

Last Week in Review: Interest Rate Outlook – Three Things to Follow Three Things to Follow Home loan rates remain right at historic lows fueling unprecedented refinance activity and driving purchase demand. Many are asking: how long will the good times last? Could rates move another leg lower? What’s next for rates? Here are three […]

Last Week in Review: Markets Enter the Great Unknown COVID-19 Hits the White House Last Friday morning, President Trump and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19. The news shocked the financial markets around the globe, with global Stocks declining in response to the uncertainty. The news adds the potential for large market swings as […]

Last Week in Review: Uncertainty Takes Over the Markets Fiscal Stimulus Fiscal stimulus refers to policy measures undertaken by a government that typically reduce taxes or regulations and increase government spending in order to boost economic activity. This past week, both Fed Chair Powell and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin called for more “fiscal stimulus” to help […]

Last Week in Review: The Fed Spoke, the Markets Reacted Last Wednesday, the Federal Reserve issued its Monetary Policy Statement and held a press conference. An unofficial mandate for the Fed is to maintain "market calm" and not say anything to roil either Stocks or Bonds. Overall, the Fed statement and press conference were extremely […]

The Last Week in Review: Good, Bad, and Ugly Before the Fed The Good Last week, home loan rates hit all-time low levels despite progress and optimism on a vaccine, the economy, and the job market. A continued tailwind for relatively low rates comes from the Eurozone, where their central bank, the ECB, left rates […]

This past week, the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium took place. This annual event which started back in 1981 is attended by central bankers, finance ministers, and other officials from around the globe, to discuss and deliver speeches on important economic issues facing worldwide economies. History has shown this event to deliver market-moving comments and major […]

Last Week in Review: New Home Prices to Climb this Fall No Progress From Congress This week we watched rates modestly improve as uncertainty climbed. The main culprit is the ongoing “debate” in Congress on what a fourth stimulus bill will look like. History has shown that Congress will likely get something done, things will just […]

Last Week in Review: The Return of Inflation and Opportunity “Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair.”— Sam Ewing This past week, home loan rates ticked up from the best levels ever, and the 10-year Note yield moved sharply higher […]