The last two weeks of December are unlike almost any time of year in terms of market movement and what we should read into it, but there were several housing-related reports that are worth considering as we head into the new year.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Mixed Signals in Housing Data and Small-Scale Volatility in Rates
Best Winning Streak For Rates in 2 Years
It was a critical week for financial markets and especially for rates as investors digested the latest inflation data and the Fed’s smaller rate hike.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Best Winning Streak For Rates in 2 Years
Extremely Risky Week Coming Up For Better or Worse
Tuesday December 13th is the day many people have been waiting for ever since Thursday November 10th. What do those two days have in common? They each mark the monthly release of the Consumer Price Index, the official inflation data responsible for some of 2022’s wildest trading days.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Extremely Risky Week Coming Up For Better or Worse
Rates Dream of Green Christmas With Help From The Fed
As far as financial markets are concerned, a green Christmas is better than anything Bing Crosby could have crooned about. Green is the color that flashes when markets are improving or when interest rates are falling. Green, for lack of a better word, is good.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Rates Dream of Green Christmas With Help From The Fed
Fed Says: Don't Get Too Excited About Rates Just Yet
There’s no question that last week was an exciting one for rates. On Wednesday, the average 30yr fixed was fairly close to the highest levels since 2002. The following afternoon, it had fallen more than half a percent to the lowest level in nearly 2 months–the biggest single day drop on record.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Fed Says: Don't Get Too Excited About Rates Just Yet
Record Single Day Drop in Rates After Inflation Comes in Cooler
Heading into this week, we knew that Thursday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) would be critically important. It did not disappoint.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Record Single Day Drop in Rates After Inflation Comes in Cooler
Higher Rates Due to The Fed, But Not Due to The Fed's Rate Hike
The Federal Reserve hiked rates by 0.75% this week and 30yr fixed mortgage rates moved moderately higher. Interestingly enough, those two things are fairly unrelated.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Higher Rates Due to The Fed, But Not Due to The Fed's Rate Hike
Rates Actually Moved Lower This Week; What's a "Fed Pivot?"
The average 30yr fixed mortgage rate officially moved over 7% this week according to major weekly surveys, but mortgage rates actually moved lower!
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Rates Actually Moved Lower This Week; What's a "Fed Pivot?"
Sifting Through Ashes For Seeds Of Hope
There’s no way to sugarcoat the situation in the bond market and, by extension, the mortgage and housing markets. Rates have risen at a nearly unprecedented pace, ushering in one of the quickest cooldowns on record. One of the only ways to find hope in this environment is to imagine that bad news is finite.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Sifting Through Ashes For Seeds Of Hope
20 Year High Rates as Inflation Persists. Any Hope in Sight?
Unsurprisingly, the market remains intently focused on inflation as the key driver of Fed policy and rate volatility. This week, the biggest inflation report combined with more UK market drama to push rates to another 20yr high.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
20 Year High Rates as Inflation Persists. Any Hope in Sight?