The Lede

Washington Post, Mar. 17, 2016--Orton, Kathy Mortgage rates wandered upward for third week in a row prior to the Federal Reserve's announcement Wednesday that it was leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged and lowering its economic forecasts.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 17, 2016--Morath, Eric Americans applying for new unemployment benefits rose slightly last week, but remains at a level consistent with an improving jobs market.

MarketWatch, Mar. 17, 2016--Goldstein, Steve The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index rose to 12.4 from a negative 2.8 in February, the regional district of the central bank said Thursday. That was much better than the negative 0.5 expected.

CNBC, Mar. 17, 2016--Wang, Christine The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 5.5 million job openings in January, up from 5.28 million job openings in December, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary report.

Reuters, Mar. 17, 2016--Lash, Herbert The market for luxury homes in the Hamptons, the summer playground for Wall Street's wealthiest, is losing some of its luster as financial markets limp along for a second year.

HousingWire, Mar. 17, 2016--Swanson, Brena The net gain on each loan originated by independent mortgage banks and mortgage bank subsidiaries plummeted 60 percent in fourth-quarter 2015 due to the implementation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule in October, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.

Construction Dive, Mar. 17, 2016--Slowey, Kim A report by the Hispanic Wealth Project and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals found the 2015 U.S. Hispanic homeownership rate saw its biggest full-year increase in more than 10 years--44.5 percent to 46.7 percent. "The Latino community is massive, it's ready to own, and it's now," said Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David Stevens. "The significance of Hispanics to housing and the economy will only grow, creating opportunity for all who focus on this vibrant, dynamic and impactful part of the U.S. economy."

Bankrate, Mar. 17, 2016--Ponder, Crissanda Lenders who have previously shied away from making FHA-insured loans may now give them a second look. Mortgage Bankers Association president and CEO David Stevens acknowledged the FHA's efforts to clarify certification requirements, but advised lenders to exercise caution.

HousingWire, Mar. 17, 2016--Swanson, Brena Innovation. The word is used a lot in today's mortgage market, but while any one can use a fancy word to describe their business, only a few can actually execute.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 17, 2016--Stynes, Tess JPMorgan Chase & Co. said its board authorized the repurchase of an additional $1.88 billion of the New York bank's stock through the end of the second quarter.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 17, 2016--Finkelstein, Brad If the Federal Reserve raises short-term rates in June, market volatility will spur investors to buy long-term bonds, driving down the 30-year mortgage rate to around 3%, consultant Barry Habib argues.