Bulls & Blogs

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By G. Steven Bray

We were watching the European Central Bank last week to boost the momentum of our current rally, and its message, while somewhat muddled, was just soft enough to give rates a friendly nudge. That left rates at the lows for the month and looking for a new source of inspiration.

This is a Fed week, meaning the Federal Reserve meets to discuss monetary policy, and that normally could be the inspiration. However, this meeting has no post-meeting press conference, and the consensus is the Fed doesn’t make big policy changes at such meetings.

So, markets are left to drift with the tides. Because of low summertime market volumes, rates are more susceptible to choppiness around political headlines, economic data, and position squaring by investors. We discussed the first, political headlines, last week. Resurrection of the health care bill could be a negative for rates. A Russian bombshell could be a positive. For economic data, we have the Durable Goods report and 2nd quarter GDP at the end of the week. A significant positive surprise in either report could stem our current rally, but I think that’s unlikely. Finally, we have end-of-month position squaring, which tends to provide temporary support for rallies. My conclusion is that lower rates are certainly possible this week, but if you’re floating your rate, watch for headlines that would signal a reversal of fortunes.

For more information, please contact me at (512) 261-1542 or steve@LoneStarLending.com.

By G. Steven Bray

Last week’s jobs report was surprisingly strong, but bond markets hardly noticed. Instead, they seem to be laser-focused on the prospects that the European Central Bank will curtail its asset-purchase program.

It may seem odd that something seemingly so distant could impact US mortgage rates, but that’s the effect of interconnected global markets. The yield on the German Bund, considered the safest European debt, jumped right after the ECB announcement. US Treasury and mortgage rates also hopped on board the panic train, but the distance limited the damage.

The ECB announcement indicated that at some point the ECB would have to stop pumping money into the EU economy. The ECB immediately tried to back-peddle to calm markets, but the damage was done. Markets know the party eventually will end, and the ECB must be thinking about the end, or it wouldn’t have made the statement.

For those wanting rates to fall again, the glimmer of hope is recent inflation data. The Federal Reserve’s target rate is 2%. Inflation hasn’t been that high in years, and recent data shows inflation heading down again. This may give the Fed a reason to pause its plans to hike rates and shrink its balance sheet, which would be positive for rates. Markets will be listening carefully to Fed Head Yellen this week during her Congressional testimony for any signs the Fed’s plans may be changing.

For more information, please contact me at (512) 261-1542 or steve@LoneStarLending.com.

By G. Steven Bray

The Federal Reserve gave us an unexpected surprise last week by announcing details of its balance sheet reduction plan. The Fed has been the main buyer of mortgage bonds, and the concern is that when the Fed curtails its buying, the law of supply and demand will push mortgage rates higher. Even though the Fed didn’t give a start date for the plan, markets are anticipatory, and the news immediately put pressure on rates.

And that probably would have been the news of the day if not the morning’s economic data. Continuing a recent trend, the two reports, inflation and retail sales, both were weaker than expected. The inflation number was particularly disconcerting given that managing inflation is one of the Fed’s mandates. Core inflation dropped again to 1.7%, falling farther from the Fed’s 2% target.

As a result, interest rates were in rally mode by the time of the Fed announcement. The announcement stemmed the rally, but the damage could have been worse. The Fed merely paid lip service to recent economic data and didn’t change its rate hike outlook at all. Despite this, rates held onto most of their gains.

Unfortunately, this leaves us without a sense of direction for rates. This week’s economic calendar is fairly quiet, and if you’re floating your interest rate, I think it makes sense to be defensive. Rates could fall further, but that probably requires an unexpected headline in the short term. If you want to float, choose a bail-out point and keep an eye on rates.

For more information, please contact me at (512) 261-1542 or steve@LoneStarLending.com.

By G. Steven Bray

This could be a busy week for bond markets. The marquee event is the Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed announces the results of the meeting Wed afternoon followed by Fed head Yellen’s news conference. While a rate hike seems a near certainty, it’s unlikely to have much effect on longer-term rates, like mortgage rates. Markets priced in the rate hike a while ago. Instead, markets are interested in what the Fed thinks about the state of the economy and how it plans to shrink its massive bond portfolio. Markets may react to any changes to the Fed’s rate hike outlook. If the outlook is less aggressive, I expect the rate rally to resume. Markets don’t expect the Fed to provide more details about unwinding its portfolio, and any variation from expectations could make rates jump.

Other than the Fed meeting, this week is full of important economic reports. Two of the biggest reports, the consumer price index and retail sales, will be released Wed morning before the Fed announcement. It’s likely markets will mostly ignore the reports in favor of waiting for the Fed. That gives the Fed announcement and press conference that much more potential oomph. If the reports differ greatly from expectations, consistent sentiment from the Fed could give the market extra momentum in the same direction.

For more information, please contact me at (512) 261-1542 or steve@LoneStarLending.com.

By G. Steven Bray

There’s nothing like a little political hysteria to get the bond market rallying. Last week’s impeachment headlines dropped mortgage rates to the lows for the year. Of course, as the silliness faded into reality, rates edged back up. Where they go from here depends on several factors.

First and foremost is Washington drama. If additional leaks reignite last week’s panic, rates could rally further; however, with the appointment of the special counsel, I think that source of inspiration has been muted.

Recent economic data, especially inflation data, has been rate friendly. Notably, the core consumer price index in Apr fell below 2% again, which is the Fed’s stated target. That may reduce the urgency of the Fed to raise short term interest rates.

Overseas headlines, like the terror attack in the UK, can create momentum for lower rates, but based on recent experience, it would take an extreme headline to break the market’s focus on our final factor.

That factor is expectations for the Trump agenda. Markets seem once again to be focused on the prospects for tax and regulatory reform. In particular, equity markets are banking on a lower corporate tax rate, and if Congress is able to make headway on this issue, the “risk off” trade should pressure rates back up into the range they’ve occupied most of this year.