Archive for June, 2009

Mid-Morning Recap: Big Sell-Off as World Bank Downgrades Growth

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Investor sentiment began the week with a rapid downward slide after the World Bank released new forecasts severely downgrading the prospects for a global recovery. The world economy remains "unusually uncertain" and is now expected to shrink...(read more)

Freddie Mac: Inflation Data Sends Rates into Retreat

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ended June 18 showed significant decreases in all mortgage products although they are still above the record low territory of late spring. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) dropped to 5...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Data is Encouraging, Market Response Limited

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Stocks opened on par with yesterday’s close but have since climbed higher on encouraging data reports. A weekly labor report showed mixed results, a regional manufacturing report showed significant improvement, and the leading indicators index improved...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Stocks Struggling Ahead of Obama’s Announcement

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

The S&P 500 fell 3.6% on Monday and Tuesday, and with a new regulatory framework being introduced this afternoon markets are hesitant to go against the herd, as losses extend across the board. Ninety minutes into the session, the S&P has fallen...(read more)

Mortgage Applications:Demand for Refinancing Shrinks, MBA Says

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Demand for mortgages plummeted last week, pushing the index tracking mortgage applications down to a seven month low, even as average rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage moderated, a weekly report said Wednesday. Loan applications decreased 15.8% in the...(read more)

Housing Starts Jump in May, PPI Tamer than Expected

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Tuesday presented some good news for the real estate market as Housing Starts improved above expectations in May. Inflation for producers was also more benign than expected. Together, the two releases are allowing futures to extend overnight gains. S&P...(read more)

Markets Tumble on News of Regulation Overhaul

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Markets are off to rough start Monday morning as headlines warn investors that President Obama plans to overhaul the regulation system this Wednesday. In addition, fresh data suggests that manufacturing conditions deteriorated more than expected in New...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Stocks Mixed, Consumer Confidence Up Slightly

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Stocks are mixed this morning, which seems an appropriate response to the latest Consumer Sentiment report. Ninety minutes into the session, the S&P 500 is climbing back towards par but remains down 0.32%, while the Dow is flat, and the Nasdaq is...(read more)

Freddie Mac: Rates Rise to Highest Levels of Year

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Interest rates continued to increase during the week ended June 11 according to results of Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey released this morning. Three of the four average rates tracked by the survey were the highest of the current...(read more)

Mid-Morning Recap: Stocks Higher on Positive Retail Sales

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Stocks opened higher and continued their climb in the first hour of trading, as retail sales came in slightly better than expected and a weekly labor report said claims for unemployment benefits were moderating. As of 10:30, the S&P 500 was up 0.90...(read more)