Mortgage Rates Relax After the Week's Highs

By Stevie Duffin Updated on 2/19/2015

Labor Department jobless claims numbers are in for the week ending Feb. 14, and down to historic lows, hitting a seasonally adjusted 283,000 after falling by 21,000. The other core piece of domestic data comes from the Philly Fed, which reported a drop in its business index well below expectations - from 6.3 to 5.2 - marking the lowest levels in a year. None of the data has had a significant effect on mortgage bond trading, which is sticking pretty close to yesterday's range, and MBS remain at weaker levels. Watch for static or rising mortgage rates. 

Wednesday: Mortgage bonds have been moving sideways today ahead of the FOMC announcement, and maintaining their weaker levels left over from yesterday. Mortgage interest rates are hitting recent highs. Housing starts data is in today and the numbers have fallen, right along with building permits; the drop in building permits resulted in the seasonal adjustment declining.

Bookmark this page for daily mortgage rate updates:

• 30 year (FRM) rates at 3.83% (-0.04).
• 15 year (FRM) rates at 3.10 (-0.04).
• FHA 30 year Fixed rates at 3.50% (0.00).
• Jumbo 30 year Fixed rates at 3.82% (-0.03).
• 5/1 ARM rates at 3.15% (-0.01).