Posts Tagged ‘Federal Reserve System’

Explaining what the Federal Reserve did in plain English: March 18, 2009

March 18th, 2009

The Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged today, within the target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.  This doesn’t mean the Fed stood pat, however.  On plan to resurrect the economy using “all available tools”, today, the Fed announced a new, $1.5 trillion round of fiscal support for the treasury and mortgage markets.  The stimulus will likely be Thursday morning’s headline story.

In its press release, the FOMC touched upon a few of the prevailing economic issues, using these points as a legitimizing backdrop for its newest debt load:

  • Job losses and wealth loss are dragging down consumer spending
  • Some U.S. trading partners are falling into recession
  • Businesses are cutting back on investment and inventory

Of interest is that the FOMC said today’s inflation levels may be too low to support economic growth at all.  This condition is more commonly called deflation.  The Fed’s latest actions, therefore, may be a deliberate attempt to induce inflation through unprecedented borrowing…

To read the rest of my mortgage industry blog, visit:

http://www.loanapproval411.com/info_01/page_1.rad

 

Sincerely and respectfully,

Daniel A. Sosa

PMZ Mortgage Consultant

Office: 209-474-2010 x4716

Cell: 209-298-8017

Email: dsosa@pmzloans.com

Website: www.loanapproval411.com

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Market Snapshot

March 18th, 2009

It’s Fed day once again! While the Fed probably won’t move rates at all, their Policy Statement could generate some excitement this afternoon. Under particular scrutiny will be any comments on the economy, the stimulus package effects, the banking sector, or mark-to-market.

In other news, the Consumer Price Index–which measures inflation–came in slightly hotter than anticipated. Overall, however, the numbers were tolerable and had no impact on Mortgage Bond prices this morning.

Currently, Mortgage Bonds continue to trade in a tight range, with support at the 25-day Moving Average keeping prices near current levels.

 

“Your Partner In Success!”

Tony Frerking
Sr. Mortgage Consultant

PMZ Home Loans

1600 N. Carpenter Rd. Ste. C

Modesto, CA 95351

Direct: (209) 404-2200

Fax: (209) 254-7142

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The Federal Reserve is meeting and what it means to your mortgage rate.

March 17th, 2009

The Federal Open Market Committee begins a scheduled, 2-day meeting today to discuss the country’s monetary policy.  As is custom, the group will issue a press release to the markets upon adjournment.  There are 8 scheduled FOMC get-togethers annually and the post-meeting press releases are among the most powerful market-moving events of the year.  It’s not the Fed’s actual policy changes that causes fortunes to be won or lost, though.  These changes can predicted and traded — and, therefore, hedged — on Wall Street using Fed Funds Rate Futures.  For example, Wall Street predicts with 97% certainty that the Federal Reserve will not make a policy change at this time.  As opposed to the policy change, it’s the verbiage of the FOMC’s press release that can really move markets.  This is because the press release is a clear-eyed look into what the Federal Reserve thinks of the United States economy — its strengths, its weaknesses, and its threats…

To read the rest of my mortgage industry blog, visit:

http://www.loanapproval411.com/info_01/page_1.rad

 

Sincerely and respectfully,

Daniel A. Sosa

PMZ Mortgage Consultant

Office: 209-472-2010 x4716

Cell: 209-298-8017

Email: dsosa@pmzloans.com

Website: www.loanapproval411.com

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Market Snapshot

March 17th, 2009

Mortgage Bonds continue to trade in a sideways range above a floor of support at the 25-Day Moving Average. Stocks, on the other hand, have rallied several days in a row, but appear stalled at a ceiling of resistance at their own 25-Day Moving Average.

In the news today, Housing Starts for February came in better than expected. This was the first increase in 8 months and is due in large part to an 82% increase in the construction of apartment buildings.

Today, the Fed kicks off its two-day policy meeting, which will conclude with a rate and policy statement tomorrow afternoon.

 

“Your Partner In Success!”

Tony Frerking
Sr. Mortgage Consultant
PMZ Home Loans
1600 N. Carpenter Rd. Ste. C
Modesto, CA 95351
Direct: (209) 404-2200
Fax: (209) 254-7142

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Market Snapshot

March 16th, 2009

Mortgage Bonds started out the morning down, but have since improved to near unchanged levels. Stocks, on the other hand, are starting off higher and are trying to make it five straight days of gains.

Helping Stocks was an announcement that Barclays Bank is off to a strong start for 2009. Additionally, in a rare television interview last night, Fed Chairman Bernanke stated the recession should end in 2009 and that he is confident of the long-term outlook for the US economy. Despite these good headlines, the record-low New York Empire State Manufacturing Index indicates that we are still in a tough recessionary period for now.

Currently, Mortgage Bonds are sitting above an important floor of support.

“Your Partner In Success!”

Tony Frerking
Sr. Mortgage Consultant
PMZ Home Loans
1600 N. Carpenter Rd. Ste. C
Modesto, CA 95351
Direct: (209) 404-2200
Fax: (209) 254-7142

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60 Minutes Interview with Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke…its first in history

March 16th, 2009

Mortgage markets lost a little bit of ground last week, edging mortgage rates higher in a week marked by the largest stock market gains since November.  Once again, mortgage rates couldn’t sustain a rally of more than 5 days.  Not since late-2008 have mortgage rates managed to fall two weeks in a row.  Last week’s market was impacted by three distinct factors:

  1. Bank balance sheets weren’t as bad as feared
  2. Discussion started on new bank valuation methods
  3. Traders got optimistic that “the worst is over”

The rally will likely continue into this week, too.  This after the 60 Minutes interview with Ben Bernanke in which the Fed Chief said he won’t let big banks fail and that the recovery will likely begin later this year.  It’s the first interview with a sitting Federal Reserve Chairman in history….

To watch this video, please visit:

http://www.loanapproval411.com/info_01/page_1.rad

 

Sincerely and respectfully,

Daniel A. Sosa

PMZ Mortgage Consultant

Office: 209-472-2010 x4716

Cell: 209-298-8017

Email: dsosa@pmzloans.com

Website: www.loanapproval411.com

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Mortgage Markets in Review: March 2, 2009

March 3rd, 2009

Mortgage markets worsened last week, taking interest rates with them.  A steady drip of sour economic news plus concerns about the banking system outmuscled Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s Congressional testimony in which he said the recession would likely end later this year.  Overall, mortgage rates have risen in 9 of the last 12 trading days.  This week, it’s unclear in what direction mortgage rates will go. However, it won’t be because of a lack of action…

 

To read the rest of my mortgage industry blog, visit:

 

http://www.loanapproval411.com/info_01/page_1.rad

 

Sincerely and respectfully,

 

Daniel A. Sosa

PMZ Mortgage Consultant

Office: 209-472-2010 x4716

Cell: 209-298-8017

Email: dsosa@pmzloans.com

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