Morning Report: Pending Home Sales edge up 11/30/15

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Brent Nyitray

Stocks are higher as market participants return from the Thanksgiving holiday. Bonds and MBS are flat.

The highlight of this week will be the jobs report on Friday. This will be the last jobs report before the December FOMC meeting. The Fed Funds futures are pricing in a 75% chance of a tightening.

The European Central Bank meets this week, which should add even more noise to interest rates later this week.

Pending Home Sales rose 0.2% in October and are up 2.1% year-over-year. Tight inventory and rising prices are crimping sales. Pending Home Sales rose the most in the Northeast, where we haven’t been seeing the torrid price appreciation we have been seeing on the West Coast.

The ISM Milwaukee manufacturing index fell to 45.3 from 46.7 last month. The Chicago Purchasing Manager index fell from 56.2 to 48.7. Again, we are seeing the stronger dollar affect manufacturing. Inventory build is a problem, and was the driver of the upward revision in Q3 GDP. We could be setting ourselves up for a letdown in Q4.

Technical issues could keep a lid on long-term yields, which should be good for mortgage rates. Due to a shrinking budget deficit, funding needs for the government are falling, and regulatory requirements have increased demand for shorter-term Treasury bills instead of longer-term bonds. Treasury bond issuance is expected to fall 33% next year to $400 billion. Some analysts are forecasting a 50% drop. This means we could be looking at a scenario where short term rates increase and longer term rates go nowhere.

As home prices rise, affordability is declining. The median house price to median income ratio is around 4.6x, which is closing in on its bubble high of almost 5x, and well above its historical range of 3.2x – 3.6x. What is driving the increase in house prices? Restricted supply has been an issue, as housing starts have been anemic since the bust. Another issue has been foreign demand, especially from China. There are a couple of things going on here. First, Chinese demand is partially driven by a desire to have dollar denominated assets, and second US policy regarding immigration. If a Chinese investor funds a development which creates US jobs, they get a green card. Chinese money which levitated prices on the West Coast is now moving inland, funding McMansion communities outside suburbs of Dallas and Chicago. Since Chinese buyers are cash-rich, they don’t need a mortgage and are winning bidding wars by offering cash.

Filed under: Morning Report | 23 Comments »

Thanksgiving 2015

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Michigoose

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you! May your plates and portfolios be full, and may we all have peace and hope.

 

 

And, of course, may all the correct teams win this weekend!

Filed under: Open Thread, Thanksgiving | 11 Comments »

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 26, 2015 by ScottC

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Don’t eat too much.  That is all.

Filed under: Thanksgiving | 4 Comments »

Morning Report: GDP revised upward on inventory build 11/24/15

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Brent Nyitray

Markets are lower this morning after Turkey shot down a Russian plane in Syria and Brussels stays on lockdown. Bonds and MBS are up small.

The second revision to third quarter GDP came in at 2.1%, in line with estimates, and up from the initial 1.5% estimate. Personal consumption rose 3.0%, a little below expectations, while inflation was slightly higher. Inventory build accounted for a lot of the growth, which means the third quarter may have “borrowed” some growth from Q4.

Consumer Confidence took a big hit in November, falling from 97.6 to 90.4,

The Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index fall to -3 from -1 in November.

The S&P/Case-Shiller index rose .61% in September and is up 5.45% year-over-year.

The Allergan / Pfizer merger has brought out all the usual suspects jawboning about “corporate patriotism.” It is another inversion trade, where the larger Pfizer is getting bought by smaller Allergan in order for Pfizer to change its domicile to Ireland and lower its effective tax rate from 25% to 17-18%. The companies sure made themselves a target by doing this in an election year, however the reality remains: the US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world, and we double-tax foreign income, which most countries do not. Until corporate tax reform happens, these sorts of things will continue.

Filed under: Morning Report | 22 Comments »

Apple Cranberry Currant Pie 11/24/15

Posted on November 24, 2015 by markinaustin

My annual contrib to the meal is apple cranberry currant pie.

PREP AND COOK TIME: About 1 1/2 hours, plus at least 1 hour to cool
MAKES: 8 [adult male or teenager] servings
1/4 cup Gran Marnier [or brandy, if you are short on the good stuff]
1/4 cup currants [look like tiny raisins – you could use raisins in a pinch but they are not the same]
1 cup fresh [or thawed frozen] cranberries [I find fresh make a tarter pie – I am OK with tart]
About 1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup tapioca flour [I never use cornstarch in a fruit pie]
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 oz 1/2+1/2
6 cups sliced/chopped Granny Smith apples [about 2 1/4 lb].  I like the skin on for this pie – it’s more “rustic”.
2×9-inch pie pastry shells  – I either make my own or buy really great shells at Central Market.  When I make my own it is in no way unusual.
1. In a small bowl, combine Gran Marnier and currants. Cover and let stand until currants are plump, at least 1 hour.  [Sometimes I cheat and do not soak this long.  No biggie.  The plumpness of currants is mainly a texture deal.  Also, pre-warming the Gran Marnier quickens the plumping]
2.  Chop/slice apples, skin on, using a mix of techniques for slices and chunks.  If there will be a delay between prep and oven, put the 6 cups of apples in a big bowl and add a little OJ to keep them from browning.  LATER YOU MUST THOROUGHLY DRAIN AND PAT DRY THE APPLES!  My grandmother taught me the OJ instead of lemon juice trick about 56 years ago. 
3. Sort cranberries and discard any that are bruised or decayed. Rinse and drain berries.
4. In a large bowl, mix sugar, tapioca flour, nutmeg, and salt. With a slotted spoon, lift currants from Gran Marnier ; reserve Gran Marnier. Add currants, cranberries, and chopped apples to fructose mixture and mix well. Taste and add more fructose if desired. Pour filling into unbaked pie pastry in pan.  Cut hole pattern in top crust.  Mix 1/2+1/2 with reserved Gran Marnier and cinnamon and brush liberally on pie crust.  Carefully braid foil around pie’s edge to keep pie from from crisping-burning on crust edge that overlaps the pan during baking.  [Later, pass off the tiny pieces of foil that some guest finds in the crust edge as “healthy mineral”. :-)]
5. Bake on the bottom rack of a 375° oven until juices bubble around edges and through top holes, 55 to 65 minutes. If pie browns too quickly – check after 30 minutes – cover loosely with foil.
6. Set pie, uncovered, on a rack until cool to touch, at least 1 hour.

Filed under: Bites and Pieces | 1 Comment »

Morning Report: Existing Home Sales fall 11/23/15

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Brent Nyitray

Markets are flattish on no real news. Bonds and MBS are down.

Existing Home Sales fell to 5.36 million in October, according to the NAR. The median home price increased to 219,600. Inventories remain tight, with the number of homes for sale dropping to 2.14 million, which is about 4.8 month’s worth of inventory. 6 – 6.5 months is considered a balanced market. It doesn’t appear that TRID had much of an effect on home sales, at least so far.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to -.04 in October. This is the third negative reading in a row, and the 8th  negative month this year. Note we will get the second revision to Q3 GDP this week.

We have another big merger today, with Pfizer buying Allergan in a $160 billion inversion trade. Pfizer will become an Irish corporation for tax purposes, although the headquarters will remain in New York.

The S&P 500 is approaching its highs yet corporate profits have fallen in the second and third quarters. Blame low oil prices and the strong dollar. Of course stocks are forward-looking instruments and investors may be focusing on 2016 and beyond. Still, it is one more reason to be cautious about stocks as the Fed begins a tightening cycle. I would venture to say the majority of the traders on the Street have never witnessed one. Goldman is forecasting a 100 basis point hike in rates in 2016.

The back-to-school shopping season was somewhat disappointing for retailers as consumers remain cautious. Retailers continue to be promotional (retail-speak for “cutting prices”) and WalMart will begin its Cyber Monday sales prices on Sunday night.

Part of the issue with consumption is that homeowners are not tapping their home equity, at least the way they did before. Home equity loans are about 25% of what they were in 2007. While mortgage lenders are being more conservative, auto loans are now the new credit bubble. When you can get an 8 year car loan for about the same prices as a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, you know this has the potential to end very badly.

Filed under: Morning Report | 20 Comments »

Morning Report: Americans are re-leveraging 11/20/15

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Brent Nyitray

Markets are higher this morning after Mario Draghi said the ECB will do what it must to raise inflation as quickly as possible. Bonds and MBS are rallying.

Fed Heads Bullard and Dudley will be speaking on the economy today.

Weakness in Europe has pushed bond yields down overseas, and the relative value trade should start having an effect here. The German Bund has been incredibly volatile over the past year, trading in a range of 5 basis points to 106 basis points. It currently stands at 47 basis points and looks to be headed lower.

Home sales stalled in October, according to Redfin. Sales increased 0.3%, and the median house price rose about 6% year over year. TRID probably played a role in bumping up September’s numbers and lowering October’s.

Americans are re-leveraging. Household debt reached $12 trillion in the third quarter according to the New York Fed. Mortgage debt, student loan debt and auto loans all increased. The delinquency rate for student loans is an astounding 11.6%.

Credit is loosening somewhat, according to Ellie Mae. Average FICO scored dropped a point to 722. Note that time to close a loan (46 days) did not increase in October, so if TRID is slowing down closings, it isn’t apparent in the numbers, at least not yet.

Filed under: Morning Report | 80 Comments »

Morning Report: The Fed sets the table for a Dec rate hike 11/19/15

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Brent Nyitray

Stocks are higher this morning on no real news. Bonds and MBS are up.

Slow news day

Initial Jobless Claims fell to 271k last week.

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose in October to 0.6% from an upward-revised -0.1% in September.

The Philly Fed Business Outlook rose to 1.9 from -4.5 in October.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index slipped to 41.2 from 41.6 last week.

France has shot and killed the mastermind of the Paris terrorist attacks. Now the debate turns to Syrian refugees, which has predictably lined up as a partisan issue.

The FOMC minutes were a nonevent as there was no new information and bonds barely moved. They sound like they are going to move in December, especially since some of the economic data has improved since then.

Atlanta Fed Chairman Dennis Lockhart endorsed raising rates yesterday, provided there is no deterioration in the economy.

Filed under: Morning Report | 43 Comments »

Morning Report: Cracks appearing in the credit markets 11/18/15

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Brent Nyitray

Stocks are higher this morning on no real news. Bonds and MBS are down small.

Housing starts fell from a 1.19 million average pace in September to a 1.06 million pace in October. Building Permits rose from 1.1 million to 1.15 million. Multifam starts (which is notoriously volatile) drove the decline.

Mortgage Applications rose 6.2% last week as purchases rose 11.9% and refis rose 2.3%.

We will get the FOMC minutes from the October meeting around 2:00 pm today. Not expecting any big bond market moves from it, but I wouldn’t rule anything out. Here is a rundown on what the Street is looking for.

Investors are starting to balk at the debt issues. The latest one was the financing for the Veritas / Symantec deal. Interestingly, the first indication we had a problem during the financial crisis was a deal-related bond issue that was unsold. Not predicting another 2008, but just be aware.

We are starting to see an increase in consumer credit defaults. Auto loan financing has gotten absolutely ridiculous, with companies offering 8 year car loans at 30 year fixed rate mortgage interest rates. Yet another unintended consequence of ZIRP. You can’t blame consumers for taking the money – eventually all of this central bank money printing will make its way into the inflation numbers.

FHA is trying to ease rules to financing condos. Affordable housing advocates have been pushing for these changes.. Separately, Obama has threatened to veto legislation that would increase lender protections for non-QM loans. Guess FHA lending is going nowhere as the leader in low – income / low downpayment financing.

Filed under: Morning Report | 21 Comments »

Actually, the Islamic State IS “Islamic” 11/18/15

Posted on November 18, 2015 by markinaustin

Turns out the official line about the ISIS as proclaimed by our President (you will recall the blanket statements – not Islamic, and AQ’s junior partner) were as ignorant in their dismissiveness as they were dangerous in their denial.  This excellent Atlantic article spells out what we actually know about these militant medieval religious zealots, their appeal, and their goals.

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/

Filed under: ISIS, Islam, religion | 39 Comments »

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