Fed Holds Line on Benchmark Rates

The Federal Open Market Committee, anticipating no dramatic changes to the U.S. economy in the near future, concluded its two-day policy meeting yesterday with no action on key interest rates.

Housing Starts Finish Year on Strong Note

HUD and the Census Bureau gave the housing and real estate finance industry something to cheer about Friday, reporting the strongest jump in housing starts in 13 years.

MBA Weekly Applications: A Tale of Two Surveys

Mortgage applications yo-yoed over the past two weeks, falling by 13 percent over the holiday break before regaining most ground the first week of January, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported in its Weekly Applications Survey for the weeks ending Dec. 27, 2019 and Jan. 3.

Mortgage Applications Down Over Break in MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications fell for the week ending Dec. 20 from one week earlier as key interest rates edged up, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.

November Existing Home Sales Drop 1.7%

Existing home sales fell in November, the National Association of Realtors reported yesterday, putting a damper on what had otherwise been a strong month for housing market performance.

Employers Add 128,000 Jobs in October

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 128,000 in October, while the unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.6 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Fed Drops Funds Rate for 3rd Time This Year

The Federal Open Market Committee, as expected, cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points following conclusion of yesterday’s policy meeting.