Homeowners are seeing record levels of equity in their homes, and many are eager to use it. Mortgage originations hit their highest levels since 2022 driven in large part by purchases and cash-out refinances, according to Intercontinental Exchange’s August Mortgage Monitor. Cash-out loans made up 59% of all refinances, with borrowers pulling an average of […]
Homeowners tap record equity as rates ease Read More »
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will nominate Stephen Miran — his top economic adviser — to fill a vacant seat on the Federal Reserve‘s Board of Governors following last week’s resignation of Adriana Kugler. Miran, who currently chairs the White House Council of Economic Advisers, is being appointed to serve the remainder of
Trump taps economic adviser Stephen Miran for Fed board seat Read More »
Consumer housing confidence improved slightly in July, with Americans feeling more confident about the economy even as many worry about whether they can buy a house themselves. Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index rose in July to 71.8, two points higher than June. That’s close to where it was a year ago and right in
Buyers are gloomy. Here’s what they might be missing Read More »
Getty Images President Donald Trump paid a rare visit to the Federal Reserve Board headquarters Thursday afternoon to confront Fed chair Jerome Powell over cost overruns related to a building renovation project that began in 2022. Trump and other members of his administration have raised the cost overruns related to the Federal Reserve’s renovation —
Trump, Powell tussle over renovation costs in rare visit Read More »
A jump in refinance activity lifted mortgage lock volumes last month, but purchase numbers may hold more promise for lenders. Total lock volume in June came in 2.11% higher month over month, according to the latest data from Mortgage Capital Trading. Rate-and-term refinance activity provided much of the momentum with a leap of 9.89%, as
Surging rate-and-terms push lock volumes upward Read More »
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg Treasuries slipped across the curve Tuesday, pushing yields two to four basis points higher and the 30 year approaching 5% for the first time since May. Yields have been rising as investors pare bets on the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate cuts following a jobs report that revealed a surprisingly resilient US labor market. Interest-rate
Treasuries extend drop as pressures build on longer-dated debt Read More »
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York building.Bloomberg News The Federal Reserve’s policy rate is a long way from its lowest point, but markets remain concerned about a return to zero interest rates, according to findings from the Federal Reserve Banks of New York and San Francisco. In an economic letter released Monday, reserve bank
NY Fed report: Return to zero rates a ‘significant’ risk Read More »
A worker operates a forklift at a fulfillment center in Elizabeth, New Jersey.Eilon Paz/Bloomberg Shorter-term Treasuries, which are most sensitive to expectations for Fed policy, led the slump. Two-year yields rose almost 10 basis points, while 10-year rates jumped 6 basis points to 4.34%. The dollar advanced versus its major counterparts. “The Fed will take
Bond traders scrap bets on July rate cut after strong jobs data Read More »
A rising tide of financial pessimism is washing over U.S. consumers, driven by concerns about inflation, global instability and a lack of economic clarity. At the same time, a solid majority of Americans remain optimistic about their financial future, according to TransUnion’s Consumer Pulse Study for the second quarter of 2025. The result is a
‘Feelings-based recession’: More Americans fearful of finances Read More »
The good news is the preferred measure of inflation for the Federal Reserve keeps trending downward. The bad news is that the economic backdrop that could lead to lower rates keeps getting more complicated. According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index for April rose
Inflation is almost at 2%. Will that prompt a Fed rate cut? Read More »