Long-term bond yields dropped leading up to Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan's testimony to Congress over speculation of what he may say about deflation and over the possibility of the Federal Reserve buying long-term Treasury bonds to fight it,
More Quotes from Frank Nothaft:
The escalating tensions within the U.N. over the impending resolution on Iraq and dismal economic news this week sent the stock market tumbling and with it went bond and mortgage rates. The high volatility is likely to remain for a while. But since there are no upward pressures at the moment, any sustained rise in rates in highly unlikely.Frank Nothaft
Several large corporations released strong earnings and sales forecasts recently, igniting a rally in the stock market this week. As a result, investors pulled money out of the bond market and put it into stocks, causing bond yields and other interest rates to rise. Mortgage rates followed suit, to a lesser degree.
Frank Nothaft
The consumer price index figures released this morning showed that the run up in oil prices has not been inflationary at the consumer level, much to the relief of mortgage lenders. And price stability in products other than oil have allowed for more money to go toward home buying and home projects.
Frank Nothaft
New records have been set in originations, refinancing, and housing starts over the last few years, highlighting the industry as a strong, functional segment of the economy. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America's applications for home purchase figures for last week hit an all-time record high, bolstering our prediction that 2003 will be yet another banner year for housing.
Frank Nothaft
Recent downward revisions of GDP for 2001 and first quarter 2002 suggest that the economy faces weak growth. This led to anticipation that the Fed will reduce overnight interest rates by the end of the year, if not sooner. That expectation, in turn, has created a boon for potential and existing homeowners in the form of lower mortgage rates.
Frank Nothaft
Not only did the market get good news about September employment last week, but it was further bolstered by the upward revision of jobs in August, ... This inspired a little optimism in the market that we may have bottomed out as far as job losses are concerned.
Frank Nothaft
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