The 30-year fixed rate mortgage moved one basis point lower this week, remaining in the same range since it spiked in mid-April, Freddie Mac said.

The move opened up the blockchain-based transaction to a broader range of investors who only buy bonds that receive top ratings from a major player.

A non-bank lender won’t ever compete with a bank on price, but can offer flexible underwriting and faster origination times, according to a veteran originator.

Thursday’s Data Offered No Objection to Overnight Rally

Thursday’s PPI was just as tame as Wednesday’s CPI and, for a moment, it looked like bonds were going to offer an encore performance of the post-CPI rally.  But in Thursday’s case, bonds had already rallied nearly that much in the overnight session.  We’re inclined to view this through the lens of Thursday’s data standing aside for the momentum created by Wednesday’s data.  In other words, CPI prompted a lead-off rally and PPI didn’t push back in the other direction.  We can also give some credit to Jobless Claims where the continued claim number pushed up to another cycle high. Yields didn’t stray far from where they were 10 minutes after the morning’s data.  

Econ Data / Events

Core MM PPI

0.1 vs 0.3 f’cast, -0.2 prev

Core YY PPI

3.0 vs 3.1 f’cast, 3.2 prev

Monthly Headline PPI

0.1 vs 0.2 f’cast, -0.2 prev

Jobless Claims

248k cs 240k f’cast, 248k prev

Continued Claims

1956k vs 1910k f’cast, 1902k prev

Market Movement Recap

08:36 AM MBS up a quarter point and 10yr down 6.2bps at 4.362 (most of these gains were before the data).

01:24 PM No sustained improvement despite decent 30yr auction.  MBS up 9 ticks (.28) and 10yr down 5.5bps at 4.368

04:12 PM Heading out close enough to best levels with MBS up 9 ticks (.28) and 10yr yields down 6.7bps at 4.356

As part of the acquisition, Hallmark Home Mortgage’s CEO Deborah Sturges will join Fairway as the firm’s president.

The past two Federal Reserve vice chairs for supervision failed to implement the final installment of the Basel III capital framework. Newly installed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is taking a new approach to the thorny question of bank capital.

Mortgage applications rose 12.5% from last week, breaking a month-long streak of decline and offering a positive note as summer approaches.

Real estate players disclosed losses in 12% of incidents, and the average financial hit was $16,829, according to data from the past decade.

The trade group, whose industry has come under attack by the growth of title insurance alternatives, cited Morton’s lobbying expertise for his promotion.

Nice Rally on Data and Auction Results

Wednesday ended up being a straightforward session for bonds with a large CPI beat prompting a decently swift rally in the bond market. Shorter maturities did the best–also logical considering the proximity to the Fed Funds Rate and the fact that Fed rate expectations rallied 8+ bps. But longer maturities got a bit more love after a well-received 10yr Treasury auction at 1pm. Respectable results on a day where bonds are already rallying are all the more respectable.  With that, bonds hit new low yields for the day (MBS hit new highs) and neither strayed far after that.

Econ Data / Events

Core CPI m/m 

0.130 vs 0.3 f’cast, 0.2 prev

Core CPI y/y

2.8 vs 2.9 f’cast, 2.8 prev

Market Movement Recap

08:44 AM 10yr yields are down 3.7bps at 4.439 and MBS are up a quick quarter point.

01:03 PM Decent 10yr auction considering the AM rally.  Bonds improving slightly as a result.  10yr down 5.6bps at 4.42 and MBS up 11 ticks (.34).

04:01 PM Near best levels in final hour.  MBS up 3/8ths and 10yr down 6.1bps at 4.415