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The big economic news this week was Friday's Employment data, which fell short of Wall Street forecasts and pushed mortgage rates lower. Investors continued to watch the situation in Europe, but there were no major market moving developments. Due to a rally on Friday, Austin mortgage rates ended the week lower.
The economic data took a backseat to events in Europe again this week. Improved sentiment about the troubles in Europe influenced the willingness of investors to purchase riskier assets such as stocks, hurting bond markets. As a result, after dropping to the lowest levels of the year, Austin mortgage rates ended the week a little higher.
This week, uncertainty about the pace of the economic recovery caused investors to shift to relatively safer assets, including government insured mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Also positive for mortgage markets, the economic data released this week showed that inflation remains extremely low. As a result, mortgage rates declined during the week, reaching the lowest levels of the year.
The biggest economic news this week was that the EU will provide a much larger aid package than previously announced. On Monday, this news caused investors to move funds to riskier assets and out of safer investments such as bonds. This week's economic data contained few surprises. Later in the week, successful results for the long-term Treasury auctions helped bond markets, and mortgage rates ended the week near the lowest levels of the year.
Despite stronger than expected economic data, the financial situation in Greece held the greatest influence on mortgage rates this week. A flight to quality and prospects of slower economic growth in Europe were favorable for mortgage markets and negative for the stock market, and Austin mortgage rates ended the week lower.
While inflation remained low, stronger than expected economic data released this week was negative for mortgage markets. As a result, Austin mortgage rates ended the week a little higher.
This week's economic data and comments from Fed officials painted a picture of a gradually improving economy with very low inflation. March Core CPI inflation rose at a tame 1.1% annual rate. This economic environment is favorable for bond markets, and Austin mortgage rates ended the week a little lower.
Stronger than expected Employment data and the end of the Fed's MBS purchase program were negative for mortgage markets. Austin mortgage rates ended the week at the highest levels since January
A combination of factors was negative for mortgage markets this week, and Austin mortgage rates ended higher. Large budget deficits and economic troubles in smaller European Union nations made bonds less attractive to global investors.
There were no major surprises in the economic data or the Fed announcement this week. As a result, while volatility remained day to day, Austin mortgage rates ended nearly unchanged for the third straight week.
