The market was doing just fine until the headlines broke the minutes of last month’s FOMC meeting (Fed Open Market Committee). The “Street” didn’t take kindly to comments regarding treasury asset sales, consideration of a .25 bps hike in the Discount Rate, and a general hawkish tone once they can determine that a recovery is “self sustaining”.
With 15 minutes to go in cash Treasury/MBS trading, the market is going out on the lows (highest yields/worst mortgage pricing) of the day. Fed Governor Hoenig’s dissent looks to us like an interest rate protest or maybe it’s the first vote/trial balloon.
On the bright side, daily oscillators are still posting positive readings and holding above midrange levels. All good things for those that want lower mortgages/better pricing.
Existing Home Sales hit the tape down 16.7% to 5.45 million units, the largest decline since 1968. Economists were looking for a much better number. While sales declined in every region, inventories came down a bit, a good sign that “maybe” we can work through glut even if government support dwindles.
Bond prices rose yesterday as stocks suffered another beating. The Dow and bond yields both closed at their lowest levels in a month. Stocks were reacting, in part, to President Obama's renewed focus on reigning in big banks.
In a week full of major economic news, mortgage rates ended with little change. Wednesday's Fed meeting produced little reaction in mortgage markets. The PPI inflation report was higher than expected, but the more closely watched CPI report was right on target, remaining at low levels. Economic troubles in some developing nations produced a flight to safer assets, which helped mortgage markets late in the wee
With trading volume starting to fall off a cliff, expecting the market to move much in any direction is possible but probably not in the cards. Next week will be worse.
Today, the FOMC begins its two-day meeting which will conclude with its announcement tomorrow afternoon around 1:15pm CST. The words of the announcement will be closely scrutinized but are expected to repeat the expectation that mortgage rates will remain "exceptionally low" for "an extended period."
Bond prices rose on Friday as stocks sank in trading that was driven more by stock market technicals and concerns than by any other factor. Stocks had their worst week since early July. The University of Michigan's final October consumer confidence index was a touch higher than expected than September's level, but remains at recessionary levels. The Chicago purchasing managers’ index rose sharply to its highest level since December 2007 and beat expectations. The report is closely watched for clues to the national ISM index which was released today at a print of 55.7. This number was 3.1 points higher than the previous month’s reading and was higher than economists expected.
Technically, the weakness overnight traded to the low end of the range before boot strapping itself up this morning. We see the trade as continuing to be range bound, bracketed by 3.52% on the high yield side (10 year note) and 3.42% on the low side. Any move outside of these parameters will move the market for at least 1 point and a good ½ point in Austin mortgage pricing. Month end supply (112 billion) and a spooky FOMC policy statement sideswipe tilt our bias.
