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Unemployment Not High Enough For a Full-Fledged Rally

Unemployment Not High Enough For a Full-Fledged Rally

If the only metric from this morning's jobs report was the uptick in unemployment from 4.4 to 4.6%, and if that was the last of this week's big ticket econ data, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a more aggressive rate rally. As it stands, unemployment was tempered by a higher participation rate and less dire unrounded numbers (taken together, these actually made unemployment closer to unchanged).  Add in stronger payroll growth, a surge in core retail sales, and the need to wait and see how Thursday's CPI comes out, and the choppy, lackluster rally is easier to reconcile.

Market Movement Recap
08:37 AM

Modestly weaker overnight. MBS down 3 ticks (.09) and 10yr up 2.6bps at 4.167

Latest Video Analysis

Unemployment Not High Enough For a Full-Fledged Rally

MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.0 99.50 -0.03 10YR 4.154% +0.014% 12/17/2025 10:15AM EST
If there was one metric in this morning's data that should be helping the bond market, it's the uptick in the unemployment rate from 4.4% in September to 4.6% in November (a new cycle high). This is mitigated somewhat by the uptick in participation rate (0.1%) and the slightly higher payroll count (64k vs 50k f'cast). In addition, BLS noted lower response rates for the household survey (unemployment rate) and a generally unknown impact from the government shutdown. Perhaps im...   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed 6.27% -0.02% 15YR Fixed 5.75% -0.01% 12/16/2025
There was a decent chance that rates would have made a fairly big move today in response to the release of November's jobs report. This is the most important economic data as far as rates are concerned and today's was the first full release since before the government shutdown. In general, weaker employment data promotes lower rates and vice versa. While today's jobs report was weaker on balance, it wasn't weak enough to unequivocally shift the narrative of a labor market t...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Wednesday, Dec 17
12:00AM Roll Date - Ginnie Mae 30YR
7:00AM Dec/12 MBA Purchase Index Dec/12 176.5 181.6
7:00AM Dec/12 MBA Refi Index Dec/12 1148.3 1190.6
7:00AM Dec/12 Mortgage Market Index Dec/12 315.6 327.9
8:15AM Fed Waller Speech
9:05AM Fed Williams Speech
10:30AM Dec/12 Crude Oil Inventory (ml) Dec/12 -1.274M -1.1M -1.812M
12:30PM Fed Bostic Speech
1:00PM 20-Yr Bond Auction (bl) 13
Thursday, Dec 18
8:30AM Dec Philly Fed Prices Paid Dec 56.10
8:30AM Nov y/y Headline CPI (%) Nov 3.1%
8:30AM Dec/13 Jobless Claims (k) Dec/13 225K 236K
8:30AM Dec/06 Continued Claims (k) Dec/06 1930K 1838K
8:30AM Dec Philly Fed Business Index Dec 3 -1.7
8:30AM Nov m/m Headline CPI (%) Nov 0.3%
8:30AM Nov y/y CORE CPI (%) Nov 3%
8:30AM Nov m/m CORE CPI (%) Nov 0.3%
10:00AM Oct CB Leading Index MoM (%) Oct -0.3%
10:00AM Nov CB Leading Index MoM (%) Nov
1:00PM 5-Yr Note Auction (bl) 24
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Friends don't let friends believe the myth that Fed rate cuts result in lower mortgage rates. If you'd rather not immerse yourself in the "why," here is a solid "what:" This isn't an anomaly. The Fed Funds Rate governs loans that last less than 24 hours whereas a mortgage can last 30 years.  Loans of different durations frequently see their interest rates walk vastly different path... READ MORE
Sr Mortgage Loan Officer
The Frio Team Powered by Peoples Bank & Trust
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