Friendly Fed Comments No Match For The Range

Friendly Fed Comments No Match For The Range

The day began with a bond rally courtesy of geopolitical headlines (martial law declared in South Korea). Traders were done reacting to the news by 9am and yields were heading back up after that with a 10am push from stronger JOLTS data. There were several friendly comments from Fed speakers in the early afternoon, but they only materially benefitted the short end of the yield curve (i.e. 2yr yields are lower on the day while 10yr yields are several bps higher). The other way to view the move is simply that the bond market rallied as much as it was willing to rally by the end of last week and yields haven't been able to make any additional progress since then. Indeed, each of the past 3 trading sessions has seen a 10yr yield low of almost exactly 4.17%.  Tomorrow brings an important slate of econ data with ADP employment, ISM Services, and an afternoon Powell speech. 

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Friendly Fed Comments No Match For The Range

MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.5 99.64 -0.13 10YR 4.269% +0.045% 12/4/2024 8:41AM EST
Selling has continued fairly steadily, but at a slow pace following the JOLTS data.  MBS are now down 2 ticks (.06) on the day and just over an eighth of a point from the AM highs (which coincided with some lenders' rate sheet print times).  As such, some of the jumpier lenders could be considering negative reprices. 10yr yields are now up 2bps at domestic session highs of 4.214.   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed 6.86% +0.01% 15YR Fixed 6.03% -0.02% 12/4/2024
The bond market is the primary driver of mortgage rate movement and normally, "weakness" equates to higher rates.  Bonds are slightly weaker today compared to yesterday afternoon, but mortgage rates nonetheless managed to move lower.  What gives? Timing is partly to blame.  Bonds may be weaker than yesterday afternoon, but they're still stronger than yesterday morning, when most lenders publish their rates for the day.  After that initial rate offeri...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Wednesday, Dec 04
7:00AM Nov/29 MBA 30-yr mortgage rate (%) Nov/29 6.69% 6.86%
7:00AM Nov/29 MBA Mortgage Applications Nov/29 2.8% 6.3%
7:00AM Nov/29 Mortgage Market Index Nov/29 213.9 208.0
7:00AM Nov/29 MBA Refi Index Nov/29 498.5 501.7
7:00AM Nov/29 MBA Purchase Index Nov/29 161.5 152.9
8:15AM Nov ADP jobs (k) Nov 146K 150K 233K
8:45AM Fed Musalem Speech
8:45AM Fed Musalem Speech
9:45AM Nov S&P Global Composite PMI Nov 54.9 55.3 54.1
9:45AM Nov S&P Global Services PMI Nov 56.1 57 55
10:00AM Oct Factory orders mm (%) Oct 0.2% 0.2% -0.5%
10:00AM Oct Factory ex-transp mm (% ) Oct 0.1% 0.1%
10:00AM Nov ISM Services Prices Nov 58.2 58.1
10:00AM Nov ISM Services New Orders Nov 53.7 57.4
10:00AM Nov ISM Services Employment Nov 51.5 53 53.0
10:00AM Nov ISM Biz Activity Nov 53.7 57.2
10:00AM Nov ISM N-Mfg PMI Nov 52.1 55.5 56
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Refinery Crude Runs Change Nov/29 0.615M 0.067M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Heating Oil Stocks Change Nov/29 0.242M -1.134M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Gasoline Stocks Change Nov/29 2.362M 0.6M 3.314M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Gasoline Production Change Nov/29 -0.248M 0.457M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Distillate Fuel Production Change Nov/29 0.219M 0.259M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Distillate Stocks Change Nov/29 3.383M 2M 0.416M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Crude Oil Imports Change Nov/29 1.635M -1.886M
10:30AM Nov/29 Crude Oil Inventory (ml) Nov/29 -5.073M -1M -1.844M
10:30AM Nov/29 EIA Cushing Crude Oil Stocks Change Nov/29 0.05M -0.909M
11:30AM 17-Week Bill Auction (%) 4.315% 4.390%
1:40PM Fed Chair Powell Speech
2:00PM Fed Beige Book
Thursday, Dec 05
7:30AM Nov Challenger layoffs (k) Nov 55.597K
8:30AM Oct Trade Gap (bl) Oct $-75B $-84.4B
8:30AM Oct Exports Oct $267.9B
8:30AM Nov/30 Jobless claims 4-wk avg (k) Nov/30 217K
8:30AM Nov/23 Continued Claims (ml) Nov/23 1910K 1907K
8:30AM Nov/30 Jobless Claims (k) Nov/30 215K 213K
8:30AM Oct Imports Oct $352.3B
10:30AM Nov/29 Nat gas-EIA, change bcf Nov/29 -2Bcf
11:30AM 8-Week Bill Auction 4.500%
11:30AM 4-Week Bill Auction 4.550%
11:30AM Fed Barkin Speech
12:00PM Dec/04 15-Year Mortgage Rate Dec/04 6.10%
12:00PM Dec-04 30-Year Mortgage Rate Dec-04 6.81%
4:30PM Dez/4 Central Bank Balance Sheet Dez/4 $6.91T
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After embarking on a volatile journey in early October, the past 2 weeks have been calmer for mortgage rates.  The present week was especially uneventful relative to the past 2 months.  The following chart measures volatility in the underlying bond market, which is the precursor for mortgage rate movement. As such, it's no surprise to see volatility subside in mortgage rates.&nbs... READ MORE