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While benchmark interest rates continue to chop around in a contained range, mortgage-backed securities have moved sideways, failing to make much progress in either direction. Although we have experience a few moments of added volatility, tight trading ranges have kept and generally "topped out"...
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Trading action in the rates market yesterday was similiar to the previous session: early morning weakness, followed by a move higher in the lunch hour, which was then lost heading into the close. News and events were fairly positive for the fixed income sector which helped spark the move higher in price...
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Over the past few month I have been using a very well defined strategy to gauge lock/float opportunities. The idea is to lock when mortgage backed securities approach their recent range's price highs, and float when MBS are near the bottom of their recent price range. This "play the range"...
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In honor of Veteran’s Day, the fixed income market was closed yesterday. A few lenders did issue rate sheets, most were priced conservatively, which is a common strategy on bank holidays. After a slow start to the week, we finally got some economic data to digest this morning. First out was the...
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Despite benchmark Treasury rates moving higher last week, prices of mortgage-backed securities managed to hold their ground, allowing mortgage rates to maintain status quo in their recent range. To remind readers, as prices of mortgage-backed securities move higher, lenders are able to pass along lower...
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The Federal Reserve released their statement on monetary policy and economic outlook yesterday. Although there were some changes to the text of the statement, markets got what they were expecting. The FOMC held the Fed funds rate at its current level and gave a cautiously optimistic outlook on the economy...
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Mortgage rates fell a few basis points yesterday as benchmark Treasury yields moved lower in the range. The extended rally in the rates market helped MBS prices tick higher which eventually resulted in lenders repricing for the better. An above average turnout at the 5yr note auction combined with an...
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The well defined range we have followed to gauge our lock/float sentiment is being challenged. Since the range proved itself a reliable indicator of demand for debt in the benchmark fixed income market, we have advised consumers to lock when mortgage prices were near the high side of the range and to...
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Last week consumers who were floating loans watched mortgage rates rise almost 0.25% by Friday. After touching five month lows in the previous week, better than expected economic data and corporate earnings reports pressured prices of mortgage backed securities lower which resulted in lender's raising...
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The theme in the secondary mortgage market this week has been volatility. Prices of mortgage backed securities have moved around a wide range as traders attempt to balance their uncertain long term economic outlooks with optimistic short term sentiment in stocks. This ongoing struggle has mostly insulated...
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A steady rally in benchmark Treasury yields yesterday helped prices of mortgage backed securities move to five month highs which allowed lenders to keep mortgage rates near five month lows. The major event that took place in the rates market yesterday was the Treasury auction of $20 billion in 10 year...
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Last week was a very nice for mortgage rates. The economic data was mixed, some pointing toward economic growth, while some hinted at difficulty ahead for the recovery. Despite the mixed data, the prices of mortgage backed securities approached the highest levels of the year bringing mortgage rates to...
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Mortgage rates were unchanged as the third quarter came to a close yesterday. MBS prices have moved sideways at their highest levels in over four months after rallying to those levels on Monday. With today's economic data releases, prices are moving HIGHER, pushing into levels not seen since the...
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The secondary mortgage market went on quite a ride yesterday! Following a weaker than expected 5 year Treasury note auction, market participants hurriedly sold their fixed income investments ahead of the FOMC statement. This led to MBS falling below the recent range and a few lender reprices for the...
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It was a bumpy ride in the secondary mortgage market yesterday. At the open, MBS prices moved considerably higher, however, the gains did not last long. Most lenders issue rate sheets around 10am eastern and by that time, MBS had given back all of the early morning gains. This forced several lenders...