Daily Rate Lock Advisory

Indexes Affecting Rate Lock

Low

Unknown

Fed Talk

Fed Chairman Powell and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin are speaking to Congress again today, this time before the House Financial Services Committee. Yesterday’s testimony didn’t reveal any big surprises but did show how much of a difference there is between the Treasury and the Fed’s opinions on the economy. The Fed is obviously much more cautious and concerned about the economic recovery than the Treasury Department. That may affect what could happen in terms of another stimulus program for consumers and/or businesses before the administration takes office on January 20th. Since today’s prepared statements should match yesterday’s, we likely will not see the markets or mortgage rates react to today’s appearance.

High

Positive

ADP Employment

November's ADP Employment report was posted at 8:15 AM ET this morning, revealing 307,000 new private-sector jobs were added to the economy last month. This was well below expectations of 400,000 new jobs and a decline from October’s revised 404,000. The softer number is a sign that the employment sector didn’t make as much progress in recovering last month as many had thought. This is another sign of a slowing rebound in the labor market, making the news favorable for bonds and mortgage rates. However, this news should be taken lightly because this report isn’t considered to be a good indicator of how well the sector is doing on a broader level. We will get that information in Friday’s governmental Employment report.

Medium

Unknown

Fed Beige Book

We have an afternoon release to watch today when the Fed posts their Beige Book at 2:00 PM ET. This report is named simply after the color of its cover and details economic conditions throughout the U.S. by Fed region through business contacts. Since the Fed uses this info during their FOMC meetings, its results can have a fairly big impact on the financial markets and mortgage rates if it reveals any surprises. Of particular interest is information regarding inflation, unemployment or future hiring. If there is a reaction to the report, it will come during mid-afternoon trading.

High

Unknown

Weekly Unemployment Claims (every Thursday)

Tomorrow’s only relevant economic data will be last week’s unemployment figures at 8:30 AM ET. They are expected to show that 777,000 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed last week, nearly unchanged from the previous week’s number of filings. Rising claims is a sign of employment sector weakness, meaning the higher the number tomorrow morning, the better the news it for mortgage rates.

Rate Lock Advisory

Mortgage Rate Trend

Indexes Affecting Rate Lock

Fed Talk

ADP Employment

Fed Beige Book

Weekly Unemployment Claims (every Thursday)

Float / Lock Recommendation