Japan Currency Intervention, Oil, and Data Causing Some Selling

Japan Currency Intervention, Oil, and Data Causing Some Selling

Japan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) and central bank (BOJ) are a bit more closely linked than Treasury and the Fed. For example, the MOF can instruct the BOJ to sell a bunch of securities to pop up the value of domestic currency. They did this in relatively grand fashion yesterday, but the selling didn't appear to involve Treasuries (as it sometimes does). Now in today's overnight session, there was another Yen-specific spike and this time, it lines up with the start of selling pressure in Treasuries. It's not extreme, and it correlated with Iran headlines causing oil prices to rise. If anything, the timing actually lines up better with oil. Last but not least, this morning's ECI data added a small but measurable amount of selling. 10yr yields are flirting with 4.7 and MBS are down just over an eighth--not massive weakness considering the inputs.

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MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.5
99.26
-0.04 
10YR TREASURY
4.683
+0.009 
7/31/2026 8:24AM EST
10yr yields are launching higher, and in the highest volume of the day--now up 6bps at 4.734. MBS are down more than a quarter point and just over an eighth of a point since 9am. Most lenders don't release rates that early, but some rate sheets that are coming out now may have been "in progress" based on those 9am levels.  The selling may be linked to currency intervention trades targeting Japanese Yen, but given the sharp selling in stocks, this is far from confir...   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed
6.77%
-0.01% 
15YR Fixed
6.31%
-0.01% 
7/30/2026
It's not at all uncommon for mortgage rates to experience microscopic movement in either direction on any given day. In fact, it's probably the most common eventuality over time. In that sense, today was unremarkable with the average lender moving just a hair lower versus yesterday's latest levels. But in another sense, it's very good news. After yesterday's market reaction to the Fed press conference, there was a risk that bonds (which dictate rates) would continue their...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Friday, Jul 31
8:30AM Q2 Employment costs (%) Q2 0.9% 0.8% 0.9%
9:45AM Jul Chicago PMI Jul 57.6 56 56.7
10:00AM Jul U Mich conditions Jul 54.8 54.9 47.7
10:00AM Jul Consumer Sentiment (ip) Jul 55.2 54.0 49.5
10:00AM Jul Sentiment: 1y Inflation (%) Jul 4.2% 4.2% 4.6%
10:00AM Jul Sentiment: 5y Inflation (%) Jul 3.3% 3.3% 3.3%
Monday, Aug 03
9:45AM Jul S&P Global Manuf. PMI Jul 53.8 53.9
10:00AM Jul ISM Mfg Prices Paid Jul 73.0
10:00AM Jul ISM Manufacturing PMI Jul 53.3
10:00AM Jul ISM Manufacturing Employment Jul 49.7
10:00AM Jun Construction spending (%) Jun 0.1%
2:00PM Loan Officer Survey