Consolidation Continues Ahead of CPI

Consolidation Continues Ahead of CPI

February 19th through March 3rd marked an exceptionally directional rally for bonds. The following day brought the big blow-up in German debt, and the start of the consolidation in US rates. Granted, if domestic economic data been weaker, the rally may have tried to soldier on, but after the jobs report came out near consensus, that was that.  As has been the case for several years, the next major report after the jobs report is CPI, and CPI is arguably even more important at the moment.  This isn't to say we're guaranteed to see a big reaction--only that the potential is there, should the data come in much higher or lower than forecast.  As for today, it was just another in the ongoing consolidation with bonds determined to move back to the higher end of the recent sideways range after moving lower yesterday.

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Consolidation Continues Ahead of CPI

MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.5 99.77 +0.16 10YR 4.274% -0.007% 3/12/2025 1:26AM EST
MBS are now down more than a quarter point on the day (10 ticks or 0.31) after headlines regarding truce talks between Ukraine and Russia.  Most lenders are seeing at least an eighth of a point of weakness now, so the jumpier crowd could be closer to repricing. 10yr yields are up 6.5bps at the highs of the day (4.276).   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed 6.79% +0.07% 15YR Fixed 6.21% +0.03% 3/11/2025
With fiscal and geopolitical developments dominating the news cycle, it would be easy to forget that interest rates prefer to take their primary cues from economic data.  This is an important reminder considering tomorrow morning brings one of the most closely watched economic reports: the Consumer Price Index (CPI). CPI is one of only a few inflation reports from the U.S. government. It is also the out 2 weeks earlier than its only real competitor. Because of that, ...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Tuesday, Mar 11
6:00AM Feb NFIB Business Optimism Index Feb 100.7 101 102.8
9:00AM Mar/08 Redbook yy (%) Mar/08 5.7% 6.6%
10:00AM Jan USA JOLTS Job Openings Jan 7.74M 7.63M 7.6M
10:00AM Jan JOLTs Job Quits (ml) Jan 3.266M 3.197M
11:30AM 26-Week Bill Auction (bl) 70
11:30AM 6-Week Bill Auction (%) 4.235% 4.240%
12:00PM WASDE Report (%)
1:00PM 3-Year Note Auction 3.908% 4.300%
1:00PM 3-Yr Note Auction (bl) 58
4:30PM Mar/07 API weekly crude stocks (ml) Mar/07 4.247M 2.1M -1.455M
Wednesday, Mar 12
12:00AM Roll Date - UMBS 30YR
7:00AM Mar/07 MBA 30-yr mortgage rate (%) Mar/07 6.73%
7:00AM Mar/07 MBA Mortgage Applications Mar/07 20.4%
7:00AM Mar/07 MBA Purchase Index Mar/07 144.5
7:00AM Mar/07 Mortgage Market Index Mar/07 242.2
7:00AM Mar/07 MBA Refi Index Mar/07 784.2
8:30AM Feb y/y Headline CPI (%) Feb 2.9% 3%
8:30AM Feb CPI index, nsa Feb 319.22 317.67
8:30AM Feb m/m Headline CPI (%) Feb 0.3% 0.5%
8:30AM Feb y/y CORE CPI (%) Feb 3.2% 3.3%
8:30AM Feb m/m CORE CPI (%) Feb 0.3% 0.4%
8:30AM Feb Core CPI index, sa Feb 319.086
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Crude Oil Imports Change Mar/07 -0.054M
10:30AM Mar/07 Crude Oil Inventory (ml) Mar/07 2.1M 3.614M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Gasoline Production Change Mar/07 0.464M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Gasoline Stocks Change Mar/07 -2.5M -1.433M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Cushing Crude Oil Stocks Change Mar/07 1.124M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Distillate Stocks Change Mar/07 -1.4M -1.318M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Distillate Fuel Production Change Mar/07 -0.587M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Heating Oil Stocks Change Mar/07 -0.067M
10:30AM Mar/07 EIA Refinery Crude Runs Change Mar/07 -0.346M
11:30AM 17-Week Bill Auction (%) 4.180%
1:00PM 10-yr Note Auction (bl) 39
1:00PM 10-Year Note Auction 4.632%
2:00PM Feb Federal budget, $ (bl) Feb $-303.2B $-129B
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There's a lot for financial markets to digest at the moment. Over the past few weeks, the net effect of that digestion has been good for bonds/rates and bad for stocks. But the prevailing correlation broke down this week and few people in the U.S. truly understand why. That's forgivable, considering there has been a lot to react to in terms of economic data and fiscal updates. Monday's weaker&n... READ MORE