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Market Perspective


Labor Market Outperforms
Overview: Over the past week, there was little change in the outlook for the economic impact of the coronavirus, and stronger than...
Feb 12, 20202 min read


Manufacturing Rebounds
Overview: Shifting expectations for the impact of the coronavirus and a few important economic reports caused some brief bursts of...
Feb 5, 20202 min read


Fed and ECB Hold Rates Steady
Overview: Over the past week, investors were focused primarily on the coronavirus and central bank meetings. There were no surprises on...
Jan 29, 20202 min read


Home Sales Rise; Inventory Hits Record Low
Overview: The past week was very quiet for mortgage rates, and they ended with little change. The economic data was modestly stronger...
Jan 22, 20202 min read


Inflation Steady, Jobs and Wage Growth Disappoint
Overview: The past week was pretty quiet for mortgage rates, and they ended with little change. The release last Friday of the important...
Jan 15, 20201 min read


Mixed Economic Data, Tensions With Iran
Overview: Mortgage rates have held relatively steady so far in 2020, a result of two offsetting influences: increased tensions with Iran,...
Jan 8, 20201 min read


Mixed Retail Sales Data; Construction Sector Strengthens
Overview: Over the past week, a limited trade deal with China was negative for mortgage rates, while the economic data caused little...
Dec 18, 20192 min read


Strong Employment Numbers, Slight Rise in Inflation
Overview: Over the past week, Friday’s stronger than expected labor market data was the main influence on mortgage rates. Wednesday’s...
Dec 11, 20192 min read


Services and Manufacturing Weaken
Overview: While the trade headlines and economic data caused some daily volatility, there was little change in the investor outlook in...
Dec 4, 20192 min read


Housing Starts, Retail Sales Show Improvement
Overview: There was not much significant market-moving news over the past week. The major economic data was mostly in line with...
Nov 20, 20192 min read


Trade, Inflation, and the Fed
Overview: Much like last week, daily volatility remained relatively high, but mortgage rates ended with little change. Headlines about...
Nov 13, 20192 min read


Job Gains, Rising Wages, and Strong Service Sector
Overview: While daily volatility was relatively high over the past week, mortgage rates ended the week with little change. The small...
Nov 6, 20191 min read


Another Rate Cut
Overview: While several significant economic events took place over the past week, there were no major surprises. The central bank...
Oct 30, 20192 min read


Brexit Deadline Nears
Overview: Over the past week, news about the British exit from the European Union (Brexit) caused some volatility, but had little net...
Oct 23, 20192 min read


Limited Trade Deal Reached
Overview: Over the past week, a trade deal with China reached on Friday was negative for mortgage rates, while the domestic economic data...
Oct 16, 20192 min read


Amazing Unemployment Rate; Another Fed Funds Rate Cut Anticipated
Overview: Over the past week, Friday’s key labor market data was mixed, and today’s news from the Federal Reserve contained no surprises....
Oct 9, 20192 min read


Trade Tensions With China Weaken Manufacturing Sector Globally
Overview: Over the past week, unexpected weakness in the manufacturing data was favorable for mortgage rates. Increased trade tensions...
Oct 2, 20191 min read


Home Sales Rise
Overview: During an otherwise quiet week, unexpected political events were modestly positive for mortgage rates. Strong housing data had...
Sep 25, 20191 min read


Fed Cuts Interest Rates, Housing Starts Rise
Overview: Over the past week, investors were focused on two major central bank meetings, but neither revealed any significant surprises...
Sep 18, 20192 min read


Mixed Labor Market News
Overview: After falling to the lowest levels in years, investors pushed mortgage rates higher over the past week. This was not primarily...
Sep 11, 20191 min read
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