MBS Live: MBS RECAP

As is the standard on Friday afternoon's, volume started dropping off noticeably into the PM hours.  With only one noticeable exception, MBS prices held in an exceedingly stable range during that time when they briefly dipped down to 102-09 in Fannie 3.5's.  For the most part, the range has been surprisingly narrow, and the gains a moderate 6 to 7 bps.  

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FNMA 3.5
102-13 : +0-07
FNMA 4.0
104-20 : +0-04
FNMA 4.5
106-05 : +0-01
FNMA 5.0
107-29 : +0-00
GNMA 3.5
103-27 : +0-06
GNMA 4.0
107-01 : +0-03
GNMA 4.5
108-23 : -0-01
GNMA 5.0
110-15 : -0-02
FHLMC 3.5
102-06 : +0-07
FHLMC 4.0
104-11 : +0-04
FHLMC 4.5
105-29 : +0-01
FHLMC 5.0
107-21 : +0-01
Pricing as of 4:03 PM EST
Afternoon Market Updates
3:17PM  :  Low Volume, Low Volatility. MBS Coasting Out Uneventfully
It seems like Fannie 3.5's are at 102-12 today every time we look at the screen. While that's a bit of an overstatement (indeed they're 102-11 at the moment), we probably wouldn't pay too much more attention to MBS prices this afternoon unless we get a sustained push to 102-10 and below.

In terms of broader comments on bond markets, 10yr yields held another convincing pivot point in the mid 2.24's through the 3pm close and continue to ratchet gently lower over the past several sessions.

We're hoping for a supportive month-end/quarter-end week ahead, and are also cognizant of it being the end of the fiscal year for a not-insignificant participant in Treasuries and MBS: Japan. Bernanke speaks several times. There's an important 5yr Note Auction on Wednesday and GDP hits Thursday morning followed by more important economic data on Friday.

With all the recent preference given to "tradeflows and technicals" in our analysis, we really see the next week as merging those more ethereal concepts with the tangible logic of fundamental data and auction results. In other words, the net-effect of next week's scheduled events stands a good chance to inform the next move in the technical framework. The new range is still defined by a 2.1-2.4% 10yr yield and we've only just crossed the midpoint today.
11:39AM  :  ALERT: Rally Quickly Moderates After Greece News. Reprice Risk Shifting
MBS have descended back to morning levels and 10yr yields are back up into the 2.24's after a heady little rally at 10am. News that Greece will extend the deadline for the remaining "international law" bondholders until April 4th is having a positive effect on risk markets, bringing stocks up and weakening bond markets.

We weren't especially convinced we'd see any positive reprices earlier and indeed got only one. Similarly, we're not now expecting a flood of negative reprices, but we are sensitive the a 6/32nds swing in prices for any lenders who priced between 10:15 and 10:45am.

In terms of gauging the broader shifts, 10yr yields are at an important pivot point here in the 2.24's. This could turn out to be an oversimplification, but it looks like if 10's can hold a pivot at 2.244, then MBS will be content to hold their ground as well, minimizing the already relatively small reprice risk. Fannie 3.5's are still 6 ticks improved on the day at 102-12.

to recap: we'd keep an eye on 2.244 in 10's and 102-11 in Fannie 3.5's as pivot points. If MBS are moving lower through 102-11, reprice risk is increasing.
Featured Market Discussion
Matthew Graham  :  "cautiously"
Brent Borcherding  :  "MG--Feeling optimistic with the move this week?"
Kunal Khanna  :  "I'm kinda tearing up too...Didn't think we were going to close but when she broke down, I couldn't help it either"
Matt Hodges  :  "those stories make it worthwhile"
Jeff Statz  :  "grats KK"
Kunal Khanna  :  "Just got a CTC for a dear friend of mine who mine who is on a 8.875% 30 year fixed. Long story short, was a really diffcult loan to close and got her on a 4.375% FHA due to her low credit score. She is sobbing on the phone becuase her long ordeal is over and she is really happy. Times like this, I feel so happy with what I am doing"
Michael Tadros  :  "REPRICE: 12:26 PM - Interbank Worse"
Brent Borcherding  :  "This has been a good week, and I personally would prefer if we ended right about where we are today. Improvement but not too much too fast."
Michael Tadros  :  "REPRICE: 12:13 PM - Provident Funding Worse"
Curt Sandfort  :  "AR, if I was a builder, I would want to know that the prequal letter I was accepting was golden, so to that extent I would want my own guy to prequal the client prior to accepting an offer and putting my capital at risk. If they want to get the loan somewhere else after that, fine, but at least I know they're solid. disclosure: I'm not a builder"
Matthew Graham  :  "To whatever extent the earlier news this morning that CACs were set to be triggered on these, this is "risk-positive" aka good for stocks, bad for bonds"
Matthew Graham  :  "RTRS- GREECE TO SET NEW DEADLINE OF APRIL 4 FOR FOREIGN LAW BONDHOLDERS TO ACCEPT PSI - SOURCE "
Matthew Graham  :  "RTRS - GREECE EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR FOREIGN LAW BONDHOLDERS TO SWAP NOTES - SOURCE"
Michael Gannon  :  "they cannot be forece to use that bank, but they can be forced to be pre approved"
Jason Adams  :  "Andrew, In GA we have that clause. If a lender is named in the contract the buyer must apply with that lender but cannot be forced to use them"
MC  :  "AR, yes, it is allowed, they can be required to "Apply" but they canot make you "close" with any one specific."
Andrew Russell  :  "what is allowed and what isnt allowed?"
Andrew Russell  :  "to all my fellow MnD gents out there, I need advice again, on a topic that has been talked about before...the issue of a builder or developer forcing a buyer to use their lender, is it allowed to be read into a contract that the buyer has to be pre approved through ABC lending?"
Ira Selwin  :  "AR - i don't see a "hit" for FHA HB too much. Typically have seen them, priced on a separate sheet, but I would think approx. 100 bps in price"
Ira Selwin  :  "REPRICE: 11:00 AM - Wells Fargo Better"
Andrew Russell  :  "Ira, what is the normal hit for FHA jumbo, 50 bps?"