Archive for May, 2009

Mid-Morning Recap: Stocks Rise on Revised Economic Data

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Markets have been volatile in the first hour of trading, opening higher after the release of GDP revisions , moving lower with a disappointing business report for the Midwest, and then rebounding after a Consumer Sentiment survey beat expectations. As...(read more)

The Day Ahead: Month of May to End on Upbeat Data

Friday, May 29th, 2009

The S&P 500 has gained 34% from its nadir in March, and following a 1.5% advance on Thursday futures are poised to extend those gains on Friday. S&P futures are up between 6.7 points in pre-market trading, while Dow futures are 66 points higher...(read more)

Long Term Rates Rise in Latest Freddie Mac Survey

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Mortgage rates increased during the week ended May 28 according to the results of Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey . The average rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) jumped from 4.82 percent with 0.7 point during the week ended...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Markets Digest Mixed Economic News

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Markets opened higher Thursday morning following the pre-session release of Durable Goods and Jobless Claims , but indexes began to fall after the 10am release of New Home Sales, which failed to gain as much as predictions. Roughly 90 minutes into the...(read more)

Minor Gain in April Sales of New Homes

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

No major surprises in the New Home Sales index for April. Sales of single-family houses saw a 0.3% advance to an annual pace of 352,000 in April, according to the Census Bureau on Thursday. The gain is minor, but some believe the housing market has shown...(read more)

Existing Home Sales Rise, FHFA Suggests Price Stabilization

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Sales of existing homes rose as expected in April, led by buyers in lower price ranges, according to the National Association of Realtors on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a report from the FHFA indicates prices may be stabilizing. Existing home sales increased...(read more)

Loan Applications Fell Last Week, Says MBA

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Loan applications for mortgages decreased last week as average rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage ticked upwards, a weekly report said Wednesday. Loan applications decreased 14.2% in the week ending May 22, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Rising Consumer Confidence Boosts Markets

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Markets opened lower following the Memorial Day weekend on Tuesday, but roughly 90 minutes into the session all three indexes were climbing following an optimistic report on Consumer Confidence from 10 am. The S&P 500 has gained 1.93% to 904, the...(read more)

Case Shiller Index Suggests ‘No Evidence’ of Home Price Recovery

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

A national index of home prices reported on Tuesday that the average price for a home has fallen to a level consistent with the final quarter of 2002. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index ― which covers 20 metropolitan areas ― showed a price decline...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Light Volume Creates Volatility

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

As expected, Friday is turning out to be a quiet day ahead of the Memorial Day three-day weekend . Markets have been volatile due to light trading, and roughly 90 minutes into the session all three major indexes are positive. After taking a dive in the...(read more)