Election Remains Dominant Source of Volatility

Election Remains Dominant Source of Volatility

While the average day of the past few weeks has involved election odds pushing yields higher, today was quite the opposite.  There's some debate as to whether it was polling or betting market odds that got the markets attention, but less debate about the nature of the ifs and thens at a broad level.  A modicum of lower certainty of a Trump victory was the catalyst.  It was a spark that didn't need to burn for long in this environment characterized by excessive dry powder for volatility. Bonds thought better of the overnight rally by mid-day, but not enough to undo the gains.  Ultimately, yields ended right about where they were before Friday's jobs report.  Exciting stuff for today, but boring in the bigger picture. 

Market Movement Recap
09:48 AM

Much stronger overnight on shifting election odds.  MBS up 3/8ths and 10yr down 11.3bps at 4.281.

11:21 AM

Losing ground since 10am.  Still much stronger on the day with MBS up a quarter point and 10yr down 9.3bps at 4.301

01:33 PM

New lows, still up 5 ticks (.16) on the day, but down a quarter point from highs.  10yr down 7.2bps at 4.322, but up from lows of 4.262

04:08 PM

Off the lows from the last update.  MBS up 9 ticks (.28) and 10yr down 9.7bps at 4.297.

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Election Remains Dominant Source of Volatility

MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.5 99.19 +0.33 10YR 4.279% -0.115% 11/4/2024 5:00PM EST
Bonds continue correcting after the big overnight rally.  MBS were already just over an eighth of a point off the AM highs at the time of the last alert.  They've since lost nearly another eighth.  Some lenders are seeing a quarter point of weakness since AM rate sheet print times and are thus increasingly considering negative reprices. 10yr yields are still down 7 bps on the day at 4.323, but up from lows of 4.262.   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed 7.05% -0.04% 15YR Fixed 6.40% -0.09% 11/4/2024
Love it or hate it, election-related volatility has been having a big impact on the bond market and, thus, mortgage rates .  Most of the volatility has resulted in higher rates, but there was an exception over the weekend.  Due to a combination of shifting odds in betting markets and among pollsters, rates recovered a portion of the ground lost last week. Mortgage rates didn't react in an extreme fashion, but the average lender moved back down toward 7% for a top...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Monday, Nov 04
10:00AM Sep Factory ex-transp mm (% ) Sep 0.1% -0.1%
10:00AM Sep Factory orders mm (%) Sep -0.5% -0.4% -0.2%
11:30AM 26-Week Bill Auction (bl) 81
11:30AM 6-Month Bill Auction 4.260% 4.325%
11:30AM 3-Month Bill Auction 4.440% 4.49%
11:30AM 26-Week Bill Auction (bl) 72
1:00PM 3-Year Note Auction 4.152% 3.878%
1:00PM 3-Yr Note Auction (bl) 58
Tuesday, Nov 05
5:30AM Oct LMI Logistics Managers Index Current Oct 58.6
7:00AM Presidential Election (%)
8:30AM Sep Imports Sep $342.2B
8:30AM Sep Trade Gap (bl) Sep $-84.1B $-70.4B
8:30AM Sep Exports Sep $271.8B
8:55AM Nov/02 Redbook yy (%) Nov/02 5.6%
9:45AM Oct S&P Global Composite PMI Oct 54.3 54.0
9:45AM Oct S&P Global Services PMI Oct 55.3 55.2
10:00AM Oct ISM N-Mfg PMI Oct 53.8 54.9
10:00AM Oct ISM Biz Activity Oct 59.9
10:00AM Oct ISM Services Employment Oct 48.1
10:00AM Oct ISM Services New Orders Oct 59.4
10:00AM Oct ISM Services Prices Oct 59.4
11:00AM Oct Total Vehicle Sales (ml) Oct 16.2M 15.6M 15.8M
11:30AM 26-Week Bill Auction (bl) 80
11:30AM 42-Day Bill Auction (%) 4.630%
1:00PM 10-Year Note Auction 4.066%
1:00PM 10-yr Note Auction (bl) 42
4:30PM Nov/01 API weekly crude stocks (ml) Nov/01 -0.9M -0.573M
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This newsletter strictly avoids politics except in cases where the political realm legitimately intersects with relevant events for housing and rates. Now is clearly one of those times. The discussion that follows contains no opinion or partisan leaning. Before getting started, let's catch up with mortgage rates.  Things haven't been great and much of the media coverage focuses on Freddie ... READ MORE