Mortgage Commentary for 5/9/2008

Friday's Current Daily Mortgage Market Commentary
Friday's bond market has opened in positive territory following early stock weakness. The stock markets are showing losses with the Dow down 106 points and the Nasdaq down 8 points. The bond market is currently up 9/32, which should improve this morning's mortgage rates by approximately .250 of a discount point.

March's Goods and Services Trade Balance report was today's only economic data on the calendar. It revealed a $58.2 billion trade deficit that was well below forecasts. However, this data is not considered to be of high importance to the bond market or mortgage rates and therefore has had little impact on the markets today.

This was a light week for economic releases, so I did not expect to see much fluctuation in the markets and mortgage rates. I still feel bond yields are at the upper end of a cycle and that stock prices have more room to fall. I am expecting stocks to move lower, making bonds more attractive to investors. This should lead to funds shifting out of stocks and into bonds in the near future. Accordingly, I am holding the float recommendations for the time being.

Next week is busier in terms of economic reports than this week was. Generally speaking, it will be an average week with five relevant reports on tap. However, two of those are considered to be very important to the markets and mortgage rates. There is no relevant news scheduled for release Monday, but look for details on next week's event in Sunday's weekly preview.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would....
Float if my closing was taking place within 7 days...
Float if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days...
Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days...
Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now...

This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.