After the presidential election last November, a clear narrative took root in financial markets. A Trump presidency was supposed to result in faster policy tightening at the Fed, more growth, more inflation, and higher rates. With each new move to 2017’s lowest rates, that narrative continues to unravel. This week provided a great example.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Why Rates Keep Breaking 2017 Lows

In the natural world and financial markets alike, September is a month of transition. This particular September holds some risks for the recently strong performance in mortgage rates. Meanwhile home sales numbers are increasingly sluggish. Should you be concerned?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Time To Be Concerned About Housing and Rates?

This week brought the release of New and Existing Home sales. Both reports fell short of expectations. Fortunately, bankers also delivered less than expected, thus helping rates stay at 2017’s lows.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rates Are At 2017 Lows, But So Are Home Sales

Twitter might not be the first place you look for authoritative financial news, but its impact on markets is increasingly undeniable. That’s actually been the case for a long time, but weeks like this really drive home the point.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
This Week's Biggest Market Mover: Twitter!

This week’s news was primarily focused on escalating nuclear rhetoric between the US and North Korea. This week also saw mortgage rates drop to the lowest levels since November 2016. The connection between those two developments, however, is debatable.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Nuclear Headlines and New Lows For Rates. Coincidence?

One of the week’s most interesting headlines came courtesy of the 91-year-old ex-Fed Chair Alan Greenspan who warned of a bubble bursting in the bond market. Even if such a thing materializes as a legitimate threat in the future, we’re nowhere close at the moment. This week’s market movement concurs!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Bond Bubble Bursting? Not This Week

From last week’s policy announcement from the European Central Bank (ECB), focus shifted to the Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) policy announcement this week. Although rates appeared to react to the Fed, reality was far more complicated. Meanwhile, housing metrics continued to grind sideways.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Fed Week Rate Volatility Had Nothing to do With The Fed

At the end of June, European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi made a series of comments that led Market participants to believe the ECB was moving closer to announcing an end to the ongoing expansion of its Bond buying program. In other words, it looked like a European taper tantrum was fast approaching.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
From Taper Tantrum to Death Cross: Either Way, Rates Are Pushing Back

After a clear defeat last week, the mortgage rate landscape grew more complicated this week. The traditional market movers (like the Fed and economic data) are still important, but their messages occasionally clash. Sometimes they’re simply overshadowed by other factors. What do rates really care about and how might the rest of the year unfold?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Conflicting Messages Adding to Interest Rate Volatility

There was an unusual mix of developments affecting housing and mortgage markets this week. Housing finance reform was in the news, but not in the usual ways. Rates shot higher, but not for the usual reasons. And an industry report continues pointing toward a seller’s market–something that would usually imply increased housing inventory.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Housing Reform, Interest Rate Drama, and a Seller's Market