QUOTE OF THE WEEK... Be so good they cant ignore you. --Steve Martin, American actor, writer, and musician INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... The housing market isnt quite as good as Mr. Martin advises, but its a lot better than some media pundits would have us believe. Last week, one of the worlds leading independent macro-economic research companies gave its bullish assessment of the U.S. housing market and mortgage growth. Their property economist said that the weak August jobs report was probably just an isolated blip. He feels that indicators such as initial jobless claims suggest that labor market conditions are still strengthening. Jobs of course are key to the housing recovery. This economist noted that with the slower gain in home prices in Q2, values improved and mortgage affordability is very favorable. He observed that 45% of respondents to the Feds Senior Loan Officer Survey saw mortgage demand strengthen in the third quarter. Echoing this, an accounting and management consulting firm reported that loan production among independent mortgage bankers increased in Q2 by 50% over the previous quarter, the first gain in the past three quarters. Finally, Fannie Maes August National Housing Survey found Americans attitude toward the future of the housing market is getting more positive. BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK... Successful businesses focus on helping their customers be better off. Thriving companies obsess over quality, service, and creating genuine customer value. >> Review of Last Week FEARING THE FED... It was another cautious week of trading on Wall Street, as investors feared the Fed may signal the start of interest rate hikes sooner than expected at their coming meeting. This time, positive attitudes did not prevail and all three major benchmarks scored their first weekly losses in six weeks. Sadly, the broadly based S&P 500 fell from the record highs it hit earlier in the week. Geopolitical jitters didnt help either. Gaza and Ukraine were quieter, but worries continue, with the President ordering airstrikes on ISIL in Syria and Scotland contemplating breaking away from the U.K. There wasnt a ton of economic data to chew on, but what there was came in pretty decent. August Retail Sales were up 0.6% overall and up a respectable 0.3% if you took out motor vehicle sales. This shows that consumers are opening their wallets to help the economy. It was no surprise then that the preliminary Michigan Consumer Sentiment reading for September hit its highest level since July 2013. Initial and Continuing Unemployment Claims edged up a tad, but Business Inventories were in line with expectations, increasing 0.4%. The week ended with the Dow down 0.9%, to 16988; the S&P 500 down 1.1%, to 1986; and the Nasdaq down 0.3%, to 4568. The OK economic data plus Fed fears sent bond prices south for the second week in a row. The 30YR FNMA 4.0% bond we watch finished the week down 1.01, to $104.27. National average mortgage rates edged up slightly in Freddie Macs Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending September 11. Yet rates remain well below where they were a year ago. Remember, mortgage rates can be extremely volatile, so check with your mortgage professional for up to the minute information. DID YOU KNOW?... A new study found that about 20% of homeowners who would benefit from refinancing fail to do so, throwing away an average of approximately $11,500 in savings over the life of their loans. >> This Week’s Forecast INFLATION AND BUILDERS OK, FACTORIES HUM, WE WATCH THE FED... Inflation is expected to stay well within the Feds target range for both wholesale prices, measured by the Producer Price Index (PPI) and consumer prices, gauged by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). August Housing Starts are forecast off a smidge but Building Permits are up, as builders remain confident. And the New York Empire and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing indexes should still show expansion. The weeks big focus will be Wednesdays FOMC meeting after which the Feds policy statement will be dissected to see if a rise in the Funds Rate will indeed come sooner than expected. >> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:01:20 +0000
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