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24th April, 26
Bonds Finally Trade Something Other Than The War
Similar Volatility But in a Friendlier Direction The bond market saw a roughly identical amount of volatility on each of the last 2 days of the week, but Friday's version played out in a friendlier direction. Headlines suggested improved prospects of peace negotiations over the weekend. While there is no scheduled talk with the US and Iran, high level reps from both sides are currently--or soon will be--in Pakistan. But the war headlines only get part of the credit. Bonds also got a boost from news that the DOJ dropped its case against Powell, thus paving the way for a Warsh confirmation. In
Bonds Finally Trade Something Other Than The War
Similar Volatility But in a Friendlier Direction The bond market saw a roughly identical amount of volatility on each of the last 2 days of the week, but Friday's version played out in a friendlier direction. Headlines suggested improved prospects of peace negotiations over the weekend. While there is no scheduled talk with the US and Iran, high level reps from both sides are currently--or soon will be--in Pakistan. But the war headlines only get part of the credit. Bonds also got a boost from news that the DOJ dropped its case against Powell, thus paving the way for a Warsh confirmation. In
24th April, 26
Rates End Week Close Enough to Recent Lows
With zero change versus Thursday's latest levels, the 30yr fixed mortgage rate index maintained a 0.03% range for the entire week (and 0.04% going back to last Tuesday). At 6.32%, today's mark is close enough to Friday's 6.29% to say rates are hovering at the lowest levels in more than a month. The sideways drift reflects uncertainty surrounding the next phase in the Iran war. Prospects for negotiations were called into question for most of the week, but improved somewhat on Friday. A successful end to the war would likely bring some additional improvement for rates, but the true test would be
Rates End Week Close Enough to Recent Lows
With zero change versus Thursday's latest levels, the 30yr fixed mortgage rate index maintained a 0.03% range for the entire week (and 0.04% going back to last Tuesday). At 6.32%, today's mark is close enough to Friday's 6.29% to say rates are hovering at the lowest levels in more than a month. The sideways drift reflects uncertainty surrounding the next phase in the Iran war. Prospects for negotiations were called into question for most of the week, but improved somewhat on Friday. A successful end to the war would likely bring some additional improvement for rates, but the true test would be
24th April, 26
Same Old Story For Pending Home Sales
Short version: The Pending Home Sales Index remains in the same low, narrow, sideways range that's been intact for 3 years. The good news is that there's been a reliable floor. The bad news is that the top of the range lines up with the historic lows seen in 2010 (April 2020 notwithstanding). Longer version: Pending home sales moved modestly higher in March, breaking from recent softness but remaining within a relatively subdued range. The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) increased 1.5% month over month while declining 1.1% compared with the same time
Same Old Story For Pending Home Sales
Short version: The Pending Home Sales Index remains in the same low, narrow, sideways range that's been intact for 3 years. The good news is that there's been a reliable floor. The bad news is that the top of the range lines up with the historic lows seen in 2010 (April 2020 notwithstanding). Longer version: Pending home sales moved modestly higher in March, breaking from recent softness but remaining within a relatively subdued range. The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) increased 1.5% month over month while declining 1.1% compared with the same time
24th April, 26
Strong Purchase Demand Drives Solid Week For Mortgage Applications
Mortgage applications surged last week, posting a strong rebound as declining rates and improving market sentiment drove broad-based gains. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 7.9% increase on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending April 17. Both refinance and purchase activity contributed to the increase, with the Refinance Index rising 6% from the previous week and standing 52% higher than one year ago. Purchase applications showed even stronger momentum, climbing 10% week over week and up 14% on an annual basis — a notable shift after recent softness. The
Strong Purchase Demand Drives Solid Week For Mortgage Applications
Mortgage applications surged last week, posting a strong rebound as declining rates and improving market sentiment drove broad-based gains. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 7.9% increase on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending April 17. Both refinance and purchase activity contributed to the increase, with the Refinance Index rising 6% from the previous week and standing 52% higher than one year ago. Purchase applications showed even stronger momentum, climbing 10% week over week and up 14% on an annual basis — a notable shift after recent softness. The
24th April, 26
Retention, HELOC, Digitization, Secondary Platform, CRA Products; Lottery Psychology; FHA Delinquencies
Lender and Broker Products and Services Two established names in mortgage verification. One national CRA built to serve how lenders actually operate. Advantage Partners Solutions brings together the experience of Advantage Credit and Partners Credit and Verification Solutions into a single, unified partnership. Here's how it works: clients access credit reporting through Credit Interlink, our in-house platform, or MeridianLink Mortgage Credit Link. You pick whichever fits your LOS and your team keeps moving. We support both with the same people and with the same level of service. Our platform
Retention, HELOC, Digitization, Secondary Platform, CRA Products; Lottery Psychology; FHA Delinquencies
Lender and Broker Products and Services Two established names in mortgage verification. One national CRA built to serve how lenders actually operate. Advantage Partners Solutions brings together the experience of Advantage Credit and Partners Credit and Verification Solutions into a single, unified partnership. Here's how it works: clients access credit reporting through Credit Interlink, our in-house platform, or MeridianLink Mortgage Credit Link. You pick whichever fits your LOS and your team keeps moving. We support both with the same people and with the same level of service. Our platform
24th April, 26
War Headline Waiting Game is The Only Game in Town
Markets were largely flat overnight but volatility picked up just after 7am ET after headlines suggested US/Iran negotiations could resume as early as today. That was good for almost a $4 drop in oil and a 3bp drop in 10yr yields. Roughly half of that improvement was erased just over an hour later when additional news reiterated yesterday's contentious claim that Iran was attempting to replace its lead negotiator. There is no big ticket data on tap. The war headline waiting game is the only game in town
War Headline Waiting Game is The Only Game in Town
Markets were largely flat overnight but volatility picked up just after 7am ET after headlines suggested US/Iran negotiations could resume as early as today. That was good for almost a $4 drop in oil and a 3bp drop in 10yr yields. Roughly half of that improvement was erased just over an hour later when additional news reiterated yesterday's contentious claim that Iran was attempting to replace its lead negotiator. There is no big ticket data on tap. The war headline waiting game is the only game in town
23rd April, 26
Volatility Picked Up Despite Lackluster News Quality
Volatility Picked Up Despite Lackluster News Quality It's not exactly a new problem, but the issue of incorrect or misconstrued headlines is growing larger as the Iran war persists. It makes sense considering the current lull in both military and diplomatic developments. People who write and profit from breaking newswires are eager to cash in on clicks and dollars. Around 1pm ET today, several newswires created obvious volatility for bonds/oil/stocks. These involved an apparent resignation of a key Iranian official from the negotiations team and the implication that Tehran's activated air
Volatility Picked Up Despite Lackluster News Quality
Volatility Picked Up Despite Lackluster News Quality It's not exactly a new problem, but the issue of incorrect or misconstrued headlines is growing larger as the Iran war persists. It makes sense considering the current lull in both military and diplomatic developments. People who write and profit from breaking newswires are eager to cash in on clicks and dollars. Around 1pm ET today, several newswires created obvious volatility for bonds/oil/stocks. These involved an apparent resignation of a key Iranian official from the negotiations team and the implication that Tehran's activated air
23rd April, 26
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady For Most Lenders
Thursday saw a continuation of the recent trend of very low volatility for mortgage rates. The average lender's top-tier 30yr fixed rates were perfectly unchanged from yesterday and in the same narrow range as the past 7 business days (6.29-6.33%). Despite the uneventful outcome, there was some underlying market volatility mid-day following a series of war-related headlines. The news involved the status of Iran's negotiation team as well as potential indications of air strikes in Iran. The market reacted swiftly (a resumption of hostilities would push rates/oil higher and stocks lower),
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady For Most Lenders
Thursday saw a continuation of the recent trend of very low volatility for mortgage rates. The average lender's top-tier 30yr fixed rates were perfectly unchanged from yesterday and in the same narrow range as the past 7 business days (6.29-6.33%). Despite the uneventful outcome, there was some underlying market volatility mid-day following a series of war-related headlines. The news involved the status of Iran's negotiation team as well as potential indications of air strikes in Iran. The market reacted swiftly (a resumption of hostilities would push rates/oil higher and stocks lower),
23rd April, 26
Specialty AI, Pooling, Correspondent Products; Lender Responsibility Opinion; Webcast Shows Incoming
After over 40 years in this industry and capital markets, I've learned that the best conversations are… with people. For example, a flyer could have been sent out yesterday instead of having a press conference to cover the VantageScore & FICO 10T news, but they chose to talk about it rather than tweet it. People! Next month, we're putting some of them on camera regularly. Four new shows are coming to the Chrisman network, covering the biggest topics in mortgage right now with the Capital Markets Wrap moving to Wednesdays. Registration is open for these live, monthly, and free shows: The
Specialty AI, Pooling, Correspondent Products; Lender Responsibility Opinion; Webcast Shows Incoming
After over 40 years in this industry and capital markets, I've learned that the best conversations are… with people. For example, a flyer could have been sent out yesterday instead of having a press conference to cover the VantageScore & FICO 10T news, but they chose to talk about it rather than tweet it. People! Next month, we're putting some of them on camera regularly. Four new shows are coming to the Chrisman network, covering the biggest topics in mortgage right now with the Capital Markets Wrap moving to Wednesdays. Registration is open for these live, monthly, and free shows: The
23rd April, 26
Fake Headlines Moving Markets?
Bonds were almost perfectly flat in the overnight session with yields holding inside a 1.5bp range. Oil prices rose initially, but recovered before the domestic session began. Part of that recovery occurred after headlines said US/Iran negotiations could make a breakthrough according to an Iranian diplomatic source. Social media quickly dubbed the news as "fake," but a legitimate version exists on ria.ru's website. So the news wasn't fake, it was just really really vague and toothless. Even so, bonds reacted to the tune of about 2bps and have been in a choppy, narrow range since then
Fake Headlines Moving Markets?
Bonds were almost perfectly flat in the overnight session with yields holding inside a 1.5bp range. Oil prices rose initially, but recovered before the domestic session began. Part of that recovery occurred after headlines said US/Iran negotiations could make a breakthrough according to an Iranian diplomatic source. Social media quickly dubbed the news as "fake," but a legitimate version exists on ria.ru's website. So the news wasn't fake, it was just really really vague and toothless. Even so, bonds reacted to the tune of about 2bps and have been in a choppy, narrow range since then