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Markets Expected More Dovishness From Powell

Markets Expected More Dovishness From Powell

AM data was a mixed bag that left bonds slightly weaker on the day, but not in an alarming way. GDP was mixed, coming in much stronger at the headline, but with lower domestic demand numbers. PCE prices were revised 0.2 higher for the quarter, meaning that tomorrow's monthly PCE data has a 1 in 3 chance of being the culprit (slightly raises risk of higher inflation reading). But the day's big focus was on Fed Chair Powell's press conference. The announcement itself was inconsequential. Powell had a chance to get a bit more dovish in response to recent inflation data, but instead stuck to the exact same script (hoping tariff inflation is a one-off, but wants to wait and see, and has luxury of doing so based on 4.1% unemployment). Bottom line: no bone thrown to rate cut optimists = Fed Funds Futures priced in lower odds for near-term cuts.  This spilled into bonds only modestly, leaving 10yr yields in line with AM highs and leaving the broader trend as sideways as ever. 

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Markets Expected More Dovishness From Powell

MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.5 99.41 -0.03 10YR 4.376% +0.001% 7/31/2025 5:00PM EST
Challenger layoffs (Jul) 62.075K vs prev 47.999K Continued Claims (Jul 19) 1.946M vs f'cast 1.960M, prev 1.955M Core PCE (m/m) (Jun) 0.3% vs f'cast 0.3%, prev 0.2% Core PCE Inflation (y/y) (Jun) 2.8% vs f'cast 2.7%, prev 2.7% Employment costs (Q2) 0.9% vs f'cast 0.8%, prev 0.9% Inflation-Adjusted Spending (Consumption) (Jun) 0.3% vs f'cast 0.4%, prev 0.0% Jobless Claims (Jul 26) 218K vs f...   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed 6.75% +0.00% 15YR Fixed 6.03% +0.00% 7/31/2025
Wednesday brought another incremental increase in the level and importance of the calendar events with the power to create volatility for rates. Some of the events were economic reports out earlier in the morning. The other 2 events consisted of the Fed's policy announcement and the subsequent press conference with Fed Chair Powell. The economic data was generally unfriendly for rates.  ADP's payroll count was higher than expected which suggests a higher risk that this...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Thursday, Jul 31
7:30AM Jul Challenger layoffs (k) Jul 62.075K 47.999K
8:30AM Jul/19 Continued Claims (ml) Jul/19 1946K 1960K 1955K
8:30AM Jun Personal Income (%) Jun 0.3% 0.2% -0.4%
8:30AM Jun Inflation-Adjusted Spending (Consumption) (%) Jun 0.3% 0.4% -0.1%
8:30AM Jun Core PCE Inflation (y/y) (%) Jun 2.8% 2.7% 2.7%
8:30AM Jul/26 Jobless Claims (k) Jul/26 218K 224K 217K
8:30AM Jun Core PCE (m/m) (%) Jun 0.3% 0.3% 0.2%
8:30AM Q2 Employment costs (%) Q2 0.9% 0.8% 0.9%
9:45AM Jul Chicago PMI Jul 47.1 42 40.4
Friday, Aug 01
8:30AM Jul Participation Rate Jul 62.3%
8:30AM Jul Average earnings mm (%) Jul 0.3% 0.2%
8:30AM Jul Unemployment rate mm (%) Jul 4.2% 4.1%
8:30AM Jul Non Farm Payrolls (k) Jul 110K 147K
9:45AM Jul S&P Global Manuf. PMI Jul 49.5 52.9
10:00AM Jun Construction spending (%) Jun 0.0% -0.3%
10:00AM Jul ISM Manufacturing Employment Jul 45
10:00AM Jul Total Vehicle Sales (ml) Jul 16.0M 15.3M
10:00AM Jul Sentiment: 1y Inflation (%) Jul 4.4% 5%
10:00AM Jul Sentiment: 5y Inflation (%) Jul 3.6% 4%
10:00AM Jul Consumer Sentiment (ip) Jul 62 60.7
10:00AM Jul U Mich conditions Jul 66.8 64.8
10:00AM Jul ISM Mfg Prices Paid Jul 70 69.7
10:00AM Jul ISM Manufacturing PMI Jul 49.5 49
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Mortgage rates ended the week at exactly the same levels as last Friday on  average.  This isn't too surprising given the extremely light and inconsequential nature of this week's scheduled economic data. Things get highly consequential next week with the arrival of the monthly jobs report—a cornerstone of market movement that nearly always generates one of the biggest trading d... READ MORE
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