October 26, 2017
October 20, 2017
Stocks have ended the day sharply higher, the Dow closed up 165.59 at 23,328.63 and the S&P 500 closed up 13.11 at 2,575.21. This was mostly due to news that the Senate Republicans approved a $4 Trillion budget, which is a big step towards passing a tax plan this year. Mortgage Bonds ended the day lower.
In Economic news, Existing Home Sales, which tracks closings on Existing Homes, were up 0.7% in September at a 5.390M unit annualized pace, which was better than expectations of a drop and better than last month’s 5.350M unite pace. Inventory levels remained very tight – There were only 1.88M homes for sale, down 6.4% year over year, with a 4.2 month’s supply. Median Home Prices are up 4.5% year over year at $245,100, but have actually cooled a bit. Remember this may include some of the effects from the storms and even with these really tight levels of inventory, sales are still strong. Disappointingly, the first time home buyer fell from 31% to 29%, which is the lowest level in over a year.
Economic Data
Existing Home Sales: Actual = 5.390M; Consensus = 5.300M; Previous = 5.35M
Upcoming Events
Next week is a busy week. We will receive Mortgage Apps, Durable Goods, the FHFA House Price index, New Home Sales, Pending Home Sales and Jobless Claims, along with some Treasury Note Auctions.
Technical Picture
Mortgage Bonds ended the day lower but off their worst levels. Bonds are still beneath the 200-day Moving Average, which will now act as resistance on the way up. The next floor is located at 102.50. The 10-year Treasury Note Yield is trading just beneath a very important level at 2.385%. Begin the day carefully floating.
Position
Carefully Floating
October 19, 2017
October 13, 2017
Stocks have ended the day higher. The Dow closed up 30.71 at 22,871.72 and the S&P 500 closed up 2.24 at
2,553.17. Mortgage Bonds ended the session near their highs and above the 100-day Moving Average.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation on the consumer level, increased 0.5% in
the monthly of September. On a year over year basis, headline CPI rose from 1.9% to 2.2%, which was slightly
lower than the 2.3 expected. The Core CPI Rate, which strips out food and energy prices, remained unchanged at
1.7%, which was lower than expectations of 1.8%. Both of these numbers being beneath expectations and Core
Inflation remaining unchanged and beneath 2% helped push Bonds higher.
Retail Sales for September were up 1.6%, which was weaker than the 1.8% gain expected. The Control Group,
which strips out autos, gas, and building materials, was up 0.4%. This was stronger than expectations looking for a
0.2% gain. Overall, this number is really market moving, but Sales minus autos and the control group were
stronger than expectations.
Consumer Sentiment was reported at 101.1, coming in over expectations of 95.4 and last month’s 95.1. Today’s
reading was nearly a 14 year high.
Economic Data
Consumer Price Index: Actual = 2.2%; Previous = 1.9%
Consumer Price Index Core: Actual = 1.7%; Previous = 1.7%
Retail Sales: Actual = 1.6%; Consensus = 1.8%; Previous = negative 0.1%
Consumer Sentiment: Actual = 101.1; Consensus = 95.4; Previous = 95.1
Upcoming Events
Next week is highlighted by Housing Data – We will be receiving the NAHB Housing Market Index, Housing Starts,
and Existing Home Sales.
Technical Picture
Mortgage Bonds have broken above the 103 resistance level and 100-day Moving Average that they were
battling with earlier in the day. Bonds are now just beneath the next ceiling at the 25-day Moving Average. The
10-year Treasury Note Yield has broken beneath the 200-day Moving Average and is now just above the 25-day
Moving Average, which is the next floor. The technicals are looking favorable.
Position
Continue Floating
October 12, 2017