Fed policymakers want more data, dash hopes of March rate cut

Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting is not “the base case,” with policymakers wanting to see more data showing inflation is on a sustainable path down to 2 percent. Continue reading

Fed Chair Powell’s attempt to deflate rate-cut expectations flops

Investors who fund most mortgages remain convinced the Fed will begin lowering rates in the spring to avoid strangling the economy. Continue reading

Mortgage rates post biggest 1-day drop since onset of the pandemic

Tuesday’s big drop in rates followed an encouraging inflation report, with bond market investors now convinced the Fed is done hiking rates and may reverse course in the spring. Continue reading

Mortgage rates inch back up after Powell warns Fed could hike again

Speaking at an IMF research conference, Powell said the Fed is committed to raising rates as high as needed to bring inflation down, and “we are not confident that we have achieved such a stance.” Continue reading

Mortgage demand slips again as rates continue relentless rise

Loan applications slipped to lowest level since 1995 as mortgage rates climb for the seventh week in a row, according to a weekly survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Continue reading

Mortgage rates ease after Powell weighs in on impacts of tightening

The Fed chair acknowledged that in principle, elevated term premiums — higher rates of return bond investors are demanding to compensate them for risk — could reduce the need for further rate hikes. Continue reading

Bond yields soar again on Fed governor’s hawkish remarks

Fed Governor Michelle Bowman warns bankers that she thinks the Fed may need to hike rates more than once and keep them high next year to get inflation under control. Continue reading

Fed stays put but is prepared to hike rates one more time this year

Treasury yields, a barometer for mortgage rates, barely budged Wednesday as bond market investors look ahead to next year when the Fed is expected to start bringing short-term rates back down. Continue reading