Don Grimes

This week is fairly light in terms of economic news scheduled for release. There are four reports scheduled, but only one of them is likely to cause much movement in mortgage rates. Accordingly, there is a fairly decent possibility of seeing a fairly calm week in the mortgage market, assuming that the stock markets do the same.

The week's first data comes tomorrow morning when the Conference Board will release their Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) for March. If it shows a weaker than expected reading, the bond market may move higher and mortgage rates should improve slightly. This is considered to be a moderately important report, so we may see a slight movement in rates as a result of this report. It is expected to show a decline of 0.3%.

There is no relevant data sched uled for release Tuesday or Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors will post March's Existing Homes Sales numbers Thursday morning, which are expected to show a drop from February.

March's Durable Goods Orders will also be posted Friday morning. This report gives us an indication of manufacturing sector strength by tracking orders for big-ticket items at U.S. factories. Current forecasts are calling for a decline of 1.5%. This would be a sign of manufacturing sector weakness that would be good news for bonds, especially if the report shows a larger than expected decline. A stronger level of new orders could l ead to stock strength and weakness in bonds, translating into higher mortgage rates Friday.

Overall, look for Friday to be the most important day of the week with the Durable Goods report being posted. The rest of the week will likely be heavily influenced by the stock markets. If the major stock indexes rally, bonds will likely suffer and mortgage rates will move higher. If stocks fall for the week, we could see mortgage rates move lower the next few days.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would....

Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days...

Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days...

Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days...

Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.

This week brings us the release of seven relevant economic reports for the bond market to digest. We are also heading into corporate earnings season, which could lead to fluctuations in the stock markets. If earnings come in lighter than estimates, the stock markets may fall, leading to an influx of funds into bonds. But, if earnings and forecasts are strong, the major stock indexes may rally, pulling funds from bonds and leading to higher mortgage rates.

Tuesday morning the Commerce Department will release March's Retail Sales data. This piece of data gives us a measurement of consumer spending, which is very important because consumer spending makes up two-thirds of the U.S. economy. Current forecasts call for a 0.3% increase in sales last month. If we see a larger increase in spending, the bond market will probably fall and mortgage rates will ri se. However, a weaker than expected reading could push bond prices higher and mortgage rates lower Tuesday.

The Labor Department will post March's Producer Price Index (PPI) early Tuesday morning also, giving us an important measurement of inflationary pressures at the producer level of the economy. There are two portions of the report that analysts watch- the overall reading and the core data reading. The core data is more important to market participants because it excludes more volatile food and energy prices. If it shows rapidly rising prices, inflation fears may hurt bond prices, leading to higher mortgage rates Tuesday morning. However, a small increase, or better yet a decline in prices, would be good news for the bond market and mortgage rates. Current forecasts are calling for no change in the overall reading and a 0.1% rise in the core data.

There are three pieces of news scheduled for release Wednesday. The first is the s ister report of the PPI. March's Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released early Wednesday morning. This index is very similar to Tuesday's PPI, but tracks prices at the more important consumer level of the economy. This is one of the most important pieces of data we see each month, so stronger than expected readings will undoubtedly lead to higher mortgage rates. Current forecasts are calling for an increase of 0.2% in the overall index and 0.1% in the core data.

The second is March's Industrial Production report at 9:15 AM ET. It gives us a measurement of output at U.S. factories, mines and utilities, translating into an indication of manufacturing sector strength. Current forecasts are calling for a decline in production of 0.9%. Since signs of a weakening economy are considered favorable to bonds and therefore mortgage rates, a larger decline would be good news for mortgage pricing. However, the CPI is by far the most important data of the day.

The Federal Reserve will post its Fed Beige Book report at 2:00 PM ET Wednesday. This report, which is named simply after the color of its cover, details economic conditions throughout the U.S. by region. Since the Fed relies heavily on it during their FOMC meetings, its results can have a fairly big impact on the financial markets and mortgage rates if it reveals any surprises.

March's Housing Starts report is Thursday's sole report, but it will most likely be a non-factor in the market. It gives us a measurement of housing sector strength and mortgage credit demand, however, usually doesn't cause much movement in mortgage pricing unless it varies greatly from forecasts. It is this week's least important report.

The final release of the week is the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment at 9:45 AM ET Friday. Their consumer sentiment index will give us an indication of consumer confidence, which hint s at consumers' willingness to spend. If confidence is rising, consumers are more apt to make large purchases. But, if they are growing more concerned of their personal financial situations, they probably will delay making that large purchase. This influences future consumer spending data and can have a moderate impact on the financial markets. Good news would be a decline from March's 57.3 reading. Current forecasts are calling for a reading of approximately 58.5.

Overall, look for the most movement in rates the middle part of the week. The Retail Sales, PPI and CPI reports are the biggest names on the agenda. Any of the three can cause significant movement in the markets and mortgage rates. Fed Chairman Bernanke is expected to speak at a Kansas City banker's conference mid-day Friday, but I don't think his words will influence trading or mortgage rates. Regardless, we have a very active week ahead of us so please proceed cautiously if still floating an interes t rate.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home,

I would.... Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days...

Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days...

Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days...

Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.

This holiday-shortened week brings us the release of little relevant economic data for the markets to digest. We will, however, see the minutes from the last FOMC meeting and have a couple of Treasury auctions to watch. There is only one monthly economic report on tap this week and is one of the least important reports posted each month.


The two Treasury auctions are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. There is a 10-year Treasury Inflation Protected Security (TIPS) sale Tuesday and a regular 10-year Not e sale Thursday. We could see some weakness in bonds ahead of the sales as investing firms sell current holdings to prepare for them. This weakness is usually only temporary if the sales are met with a decent demand. The results of the auctions will be posted at 1:00 PM ET each day. If the demand from investors was strong, the bond market could rally during afternoon trading, leading to lower mortgage rates. If the sales were met with a poor demand, the afternoon weakness may cause upward revisions to mortgage pricing Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoon.

The only piece of monthly data is February's Goods and Service Trade Balance report Thursday morning. This data gives us the size of the U.S. trade deficit, but unless it varies greatly from forecasts, it likely will not cause much movement in mortgage rates.

Overall, I am proceeding into this week very cautiously. There are several variables that could make this week very quiet or quite rocky for mortg age shoppers. Wednesday's FOMC minutes could very well be a major market mover or a complete non-factor. The same goes for Thursday's auction (Tuesday's sale will probably have less influence on the markets than Thursday's). In addition, the bond market will close early Thursday and remain closed until Monday in observance of the Good Friday holiday. This could lead to some additional volatility as traders look to protect themselves over the long weekend.

In other words, we may have a very calm week ahead of us, or we may see rates move noticeably several days. With no important economic data to drive trading and mortgage rates, bonds may move with stocks. This means large stock gains could lead to bond selling and higher mortgage rates. But stock weakness could lead to mortgage pricing improving for the week. Regardless, a lack of economic data is not reason to let our guard down if still floating an interest rate. Watch the market closely and proceed cauti ously if not locked yet.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would....

Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days...

Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days...

Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days...

Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.

This week brings us the release of only four important reports but three of those four are considered to be very important and one is arguably the single most important data we see each month. There is no relevant news scheduled for release tomorrow, so look for the stock markets to be a major influence on bond trading and possibly mortgage rates.

The first relevant report of the week comes late Tuesday morning when March's Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) will be posted. If this report shows that confidence is falling, it would indicate that consumers are more apt to delay making large purchases. If the report reveals that confidence looks to be growing, we may see bond traders sell, pushing mortgage rates higher Tuesday morning. It is expected to show an increase from February's 25.0 reading to 27.0 for March.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) will release their manufacturing index late Wednesday morning. A reading below 50 means more surveyed executives felt business worsened during the month than those who said it had improved. This month's report is expected to show a reading of 36.0, which would be a slight increase from February's reading of 35.8. This means that analysts think business sentiment remained close to last month's level.

February's Factory Orders will be posted early Thursday morning. This data is similar to last week's Durable Goods Orders report, except that this report includes orders for both durable and non-durable goods. It is also the least important of this week's four reports. Unless it varies greatly from forecasts of a 0.3% decline, I suspect that it will be a non-factor in the mortgage market.

The biggest news of the week will come early Friday morning when the Labor Department posts March's Employment report, giving us the U.S. unemployment rate and the number of jobs added or lost during the month. This is an extremely important report to the financial and mortgage markets. It is expected to show an increase in the unemployment rate from February's 8.1% to 8.5% and that approximately 655,000 payrolls were lost during the month. A higher unemployment rate and a larger number of lost jobs would be good news for bonds and would likely push mortgage rates lower Friday.

Overall, I expect to see the most movement in rates either Wednesday or Friday. Friday is the most important day of the week with the employment numbers being released, but we will likely see a fair amount of movement in rates Wednesday morning also. I am expecting tomorrow to be the calmest day of the week, but the week in general will probably be pretty active. Accordingly, it would be prudent to maintain contact with your mortgage professional if still floating an interest rate.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would....

Float if my closing was taking place within 7 days...

Float if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days...

Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days...

Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.

This week brings us the release of six monthly and quarterly reports for the bond market to digest. Two of these reports can be considered much less important than the others, but with data scheduled for release four out of the five days we will still likely see movement in rates from day to day.

The first report of the week is February's Existing Home Sales late tomorrow morning. It will give us a measurement of housing sector strength and mortgage credit demand, but is usually considered to be of low importance to the financial markets. Its' sister report- New Home Sales, will be posted Wednesday morning. Since tomorrow's release is the day's only data, it may influence bond trading enough to cause a slight change in mortgage rates if it varies greatly from forecasts. Current forecasts are calling both reports to show a decline in sales.

Wednesday's important data comes from the Commerce Department, who will post February's Durable Goods Orders. This data is known to be volatile from month to month but is still considered to be of high importance. Analysts are expecting it to show a decline in new orders of approximately 2.0%. A smaller decline would be considered a negative for bonds and could lead to higher mortgage rates Wednesday morning.

The next relevant data is Thursday's final revision to the 4th Quarter GDP. Analysts are now more concerned with next month's preliminary reading of the 1st quarter than data from three to six months ago, so I don't expect this report to affect mortgage rates much.

There are two relevant reports scheduled for release Friday. The first is February's Personal Income & Outlays report. This data helps us measure consumers' ability to spend and current spending habits, which is important to the mortgage market because of the influence that consumer spending related information has on the financial markets. If a consumer's income is rising, they are more likely to make additional purchases. This raises inflation concerns and has a negative affect on the bond market and mortgage rates. Current forecasts are calling for a 0.1% drop in income and a 0.3% increase in spending.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would....

Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days...

Float if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and c annot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.