An interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India in its June monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting is not a solution to the weak economy, said Arvind Sanger, managing partner, Geosphere Capital Management. “Focusing on the RBI and cutting rates and focusing on oil prices and going down are helpful factors but they do … Read more
Aaron P. Bernstein | Getty Images Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen speaks to educators at the Federal Reserve Board Building January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The bond market can’t help but worry that if Donald Trump succeeds in stimulating the economy, it could mean he will have a new reason to clash with the … Read more
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen arrives to speak during a press conference following the announcement that the Fed will raise interest rates, in Washington, DC, December 14, 2016. The portion of the Federal Open Market Committee statement on the economy wasn’t that different from the one released in … Read more
A sharp spike in interest rates following the election of Donald J. Trumplast week threw icy cold water on the mortgage market. Total mortgage application volume fell 9.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications, however, were 12 percent higher than one year ago. ADVERTISING … Read more
The highest interest rates in well over a year are putting a dent in the mortgage business. Total mortgage application volume fell 9.4 percent last week versus the previous week, on a seasonally adjusted basis. The Mortgage Bankers Association adjusted the weekly reading to account for the Thanksgiving holiday. Volume was 0.5 percent lower than … Read more
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), an indicator of the shipping rates for bulk commodities, climbed 50 percent over the course of November, but the OPEC deal to reduce oil production and other issues could prove harmful to the industry, according to experts. Earlier in the week, members of OPEC agreed to reduce oil production in … Read more
As pumpkins pop up on front porches across the nation, the highest interest rates in a month are scaring consumers away from the mortgage market. Total mortgage application volume fell 6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ended Oct. 7, compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. ADVERTISING … Read more
The reason anyone would buy negative-yielding debt is actually pretty simple: Because they have to. They are central bankers looking to help promote economic growth. They are insurance companies, pension funds and money managers who have to match liabilities with assets. They are not, by and large, retail investors who are so afraid of risk … Read more
Who knew? The Federal Reserve raised its funds rate barely two months ago, and all that worry about higher interest rates for mortgage borrowers ended up being positively unwarranted. The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage began a free fall, reacting to financial markets overseas rather than monetary policy here at home. “Mortgage … Read more