Author Archive
Jul
30
MORTGAGE RATES: Best Lock/Float Advice MND Can Offer
Posted by: | CommentsPosted To: Mortgage Rate Watch
I think it's safe to say that, consistently for the last 30 to 45 days, at least one lender (regional, major, or independent) has offered below market "record low" mortgage rates. Investor demand is consistently healthy for agency MBS, such that their prices are hitting new record highs on a daily basis. No lender faces a shortage of funding, nothing seems to be able to distract mortgage rates from rallying! This situation has forced us to refocus our attention on the competitiveness of the primary mortgage market, instead of closely monitoring every move in the secondary mortgage market (MBS). Here's how I would play it.... The "best executed" lock/float strategy comes down to finding an originator who knows the loan market, studies underwriting guidelines, and...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Jul
30
MBS Lower and Wider. Reprices Reported. Buyers Lurking
Posted by: | CommentsPosted To: MBS Commentary
Rate sheet influential mortgage-backs are experiencing some localized weakness as stocks rally and swaps spreads widen. Nominally, yield spreads have been wider all morning but price levels were still pushing new records because Treasuries were catching a bid, but the poo hit the fan a few minutes ago and prices plummeted. We're still in the green though...just off the session highs. The September FNCL 4.0 is +0-03 at 101+30. The FNCL 4.5 is UNCH at 104-02. The secondary market current coupon is -1.6bps at 3.679. Yield spreads are at the wides of the week. After much rallying, agency MBS appear exhausted, but I doubt this will last long. Buyers have consistently jumped on any sign of weakness...unfortunately I've already seen a few reprices for the worse....(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Jul
29
Treasury Auctions Done. Bonds Cautiously Resilient as Stocks Repeat History
Posted by: | CommentsPosted To: MBS Commentary
Treasury just sold $29 billion 7s to a group of uninterested buyers... Auction demand as measured by the bid to cover ratio was below average. 2.78 bids were submitted for every 1 accepted by Treasury. Compare that to the ten auction average of 2.81 and the five auction average of 2.86. 25.6% of the issue was awarded at the high yield of 2.394%. This was 2.1bps above the 1pm "when issued" bid, a sign that buyers were looking to pay a little less than they did. Primary dealers took down a much greater award than usual, which explains why the high yield tailed. 48.8% of the issue and 25.1% of what they bid on. Both metrics are above average. This is not indicative of strong buyside demand. Directs were awarded 8.9% of the competitive bid. That makes them 0 for 3 this week. Indirects...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.