In short, when investors look ahead, they see few reasons for Texas mortgage rates to move lower and many possible causes for them to move higher. The major negatives for Austin mortgage rates include stronger than expected economic growth, domestic and foreign opposition to quantitative easing, and concerns about lower foreign demand for US securities.

Beginning in late August, the Fed hinted that they would initiate a new stimulus program to purchase Treasury securities, which is known as quantitative easing. In the short-term, Treasury buying by the Fed increases demand for bonds, including mortgage-backed securities (MBS). In anticipation of this added demand, investors purchased MBS, which pushed Texas mortgage rates lower.

After the Fed’s official announcement on November 3, Texas mortgage rates began to move higher for a variety of reasons. Stronger than expected economic data caused investors to raise their outlook for economic growth, which generally leads to higher inflation. In addition, there was substantial opposition to the quantitative easing program from other countries and from many US politicians and economists, meaning that the Fed will face strong resistance to an expansion of the program. Investors had viewed the $600 billion initial level as a first step which would likely be increased in the future. Stronger economic growth and opposition to quantitative easing has reduced the likelihood that the program will be increased.

The recent news has not been uniformly negative for mortgage rates. Current inflation levels remain extremely low. In fact, the Consumer Price Index data released this week showed that annual core inflation dropped to a record low in October. Bottom line, though, when mortgage rates reached such extremely low levels, it left them in a position to reverse direction very quickly.

Stocks are not the reason as we are off 139 points on the big board.  PPI, inflation at the wholesale level, is not the culprit either as the print was up .4% headline and down .6% ex-autos, giving some cover for the Fed’s pressing QE2.  October Industrial production hung an egg (unchanged) and the National Association of Home Builders Index was up slightly yet not very impressive.  Even the Fed buying 5.4 billion in paper can’t plug the dam.

What you have here is a mentality surrounding QE2 that is worried about inflation, economic growth, Federal balance sheets, and was priced in “before” the operation took place.  Now we have fast money accounts (trading accounts, hedge funds, money managers, etc.) pressing the trade, blowing through technical support levels like a tsunami.  Studies are bearish on every time frame.

Given the economic backdrop (high unemployment, etc.) we feel this move is close to a bottom.  Trouble is, picking bottoms are like catching falling knifes, hard to do without some pain.  Best bet for Austin mortgage borrowers is to use the float down option (“option to lower your interest rate one time”) to guard against a reversal (rally).

Markets like this are dangerous and sometime do not follow logic.  If it looks like a bear and walks like a bear, it probably is a bear.

Currency wars is what this is all about and the Fed is getting exactly what it hoped for, consumer expectations of rising inflation to shut the door on deflation.  This was evidenced in last week’s Michigan Sentiment Survey.  With QE2 priced in “before” it happened and the negative connotations mentioned above, treasuries have continued to be slaughtered, sending credit costs higher, doing nothing to stimulate the economy.  Look for the Fed to try and talk rates back down.

So far today, that hasn’t been the case as Uncle Sam bought about 8 billion in paper with little to no effect.  10’s are trading at 2.85%, down 22/32’s on the day.  Mortgage backs are off 9/32’s and stocks are up 65 on the big board.

Retail Sales hit the tape up 1.2%, a touch better than expected.  Stripping out autos, the index was plus .4%.  Business inventories/Sales were also released, up .9% and up .5% respectfully.  The week ahead is a doozy, starting with inflation numbers (PPI and CPI) over the next two days.

Technically, the selling today has taken the chart below the October lows (high yield mark) and then rebounded ever so slightly.  Bearish readings and Trend Intensity are evident on every chart time frame.  The best we can hope for is that the October low will hold (good so far) and the market will begin to repair itself.  Odds are good for a rally based on oversold conditions along.  Just the same, this is not a market to mess with.  Until there is a sea change in the way traders view QE2, this version of Sonny and Cher’s “the beat goes on” will continue.

Private sector jobs led the way, adding 154K to post the strongest reading since April.  Manufacturing was on the other side of the ledger, shedding 7K from the payrolls.  Market reaction was close to our call.  Matter of fact, our hats off the JPMorgan for their call at plus 110K.  RBS and PrimeLending came in second but will try harder!

Currently, the 10 year note is off 5/32’s.  Mortgage backs are off 12/32’s on the low note rates but higher rates are only off 5/32’s.  Not bad considering the positive news.  Reason here is the Fed is still the elephant in the room, looking to buy treasuries in the belly of the curve (5’s through 10’s), supporting the market.  Stocks liked the news but soon gave up the trade (currently down 2 points on the big board) as the dollar gained strength.

We see the market and the economy in a transition phase.  One that will continue to hold steady and improve, ever so slightly as time goes on.  The Fed, and their magic checkbook will see to that.  This country needs to see jobs growth of at least 250K per month just to break even.  That will take time allowing Austin mortgage rates to stay low into yearend and beyond.

After yesterday’s FOMC meeting, it became apparent that the Fed would pull out all the stops in an effort to get the economy and employment going again.  “Asset” purchases are all the rage as the government is once again the buyer of choice (treasuries).  Stocks love the idea of free money and a weakening dollars, boosting value in equities across the board.

Gold is up $40.00 as well, pricing in heightened expectations of inflation down the road.  Seems to me that the Chairman and the Prez met by the water cooler and the conversation when something like this.  “Ben, I’m in a tough spot here, my party just got its head handed to it and unemployment is nearly 10%, now I’m not telling you what to do but……… I need a game changer.  What you say we fire up the printing press and go on a buying spree.  Just a thought.”

In the news, Weekly Unemployment Claims jumped 20K to 457K while 3^rd Quarter Productivity rose 1.9%.  No one noticed as traders were too busy trying to buy bonds and stocks.  With the Employment Report for October due out at 7:30 am cst tomorrow, the prudent thing for Austin mortgage borrowers is to lock their Austin mortgage rates now.

Given that we are at the best levels in a month, your timing couldn’t be better in front of such a high profile release.  We’ll preview the Employment Report early this afternoon.

Technically, trading has been a whipsaw affair.  You will notice the downdraft yesterday (post FOMC) and the reversal this morning.  Typically a good indication the market has run its course in the short run, especially in front of the high profile data coming tomorrow.  Just the same, this baby is a bull and will be well supported into year-end given the Fed and their reloaded check book.  Call the market neutral/bullish.  Take advantage as the Employment trade is always volatile.

In an effort to boost the economy, the Fed is expected to begin to purchase additional Treasury securities soon. The big question is how large the program will be. Investors expect the Fed to reveal the details of the program at its next FOMC meeting on November 3. Comments from Fed officials during the week indicated that they are still discussing what approach to take. The Fed may decide on a fixed quantity over a set time frame, or they may select a more flexible program in which they decide at each meeting how much to purchase. Austin mortgage rates have already benefitted from investor expectations for the program, and they likely will remain highly sensitive to changes in the outlook for the Fed’s plans.

While foreclosure issues were in the spotlight, this week’s housing sector data generally showed modest improvement. September Housing Starts increased to the highest level since April. The October NAHB Home Builder confidence index rose to 16 from 13 in September, which was the first increase in five months. “Builders are starting to see some flickers of interest among potential buyers,” according to the NAHB.

Stocks have been in the driver’s seat today, slipping by over 100 points as Big Blue (IBM) and Apple disappointed the market with weak results. China, raising its lending rate by .25%, helped the dollar but put additional pressure on stocks. You would think that note and mortgage back pricing would have gotten a boost from all this equity punishment. Not to be. Currently, the 10 year note is off 8/32’s. Good news is that mortgage backed securities have tightened to treasuries.

Overall, trading today has been a range-bound affair with prices above yesterday’s lows and below yesterday’s highs. Traders call this an “inside day” which is simply a neutral pattern. Expecting mortgage pricing to hold steady is a pretty good bet.

Japan chimed in, announced an interest rate move from .1% to 0.  They also have announced a plan to purchase government fixed income assets, hopefully allowing the Yen to fall and improve their export business.  Seems as though QE is going global.

Earlier today, the ISM Manufacturing Index rose nearly two points to 53.2.  The index unfortunately is still below the first half of the year and reflects GDP growth of 1.8% to 2.0%.  Stocks have had a nice day, starting with gains in Europe.  Currently, the Dow is up 187 points while the Naz has tacked on 54 points.

Under “normal” circumstances, one would expect Austin mortgage pricing to be getting its head handed to it.  Not so fast my quantitative fans.  10 year notes are up and mortgage backs are unchanged.  Don’t expect much of a down draft in pricing unless the Employment Report, due out Friday at 7:30 am cst is plus 200K or higher.  More on that Thursday.

Tomorrow Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will testify in front of Congress on financial regulation. While monetary policy is not on the agenda, there will likely be some questions from the panel on the current and planned Fed moves that will have an impact on the dollar.

Today we have $29B of 7 year notes being auctioned, which were trading at all time lows at the open this morning.  Treasuries has slipped a bit since then, with the 10 year currently off 7/32s.

Today there will be a vote in the House on the Fair Trade Act which basically will designate China as a currency manipulator. The next step is for the bill to be sent to the Senate. It is not expected to pass in the Senate, at least before the November 2 elections and the November G-20 meeting (Korea Nov 11-12). The general feeling is that the House vote will be a bluff by the administration in order to step up pressure on the Chinese to allow the yuan to appreciate. The yuan is trading at 6.6865 against the buck right now.

Austin mortgage rates were off a 6/32s this morning and have followed the treasuries slide and are now off 9/32.  We will be watching the results of the auction at 12PM CDT closely.