All Things in Moderation

Vital Statistics:

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

Global bond yields continue to head lower, and a larger percentage of the world’s sovereign yields are negative. Note that Germany has passed negative 70 basis points on the Bund, and France is not too far behind at negative 44 basis points. Japan is at negative 27 basis points. Even some of the ne’er-do-wells of Europe – Italy and Spain – have lower yields than we do. It is important to keep this chart in mind when you hear the business press push the “inverting yield curve means a recession is imminent” narrative. They inevitably ignore the fact that US bonds don’t trade in a vacuum and investors will sell negative yielding bonds to buy something positive.

Mortgage applications fell 6.2% last week as purchases fell 4% and refis fell 8%. Rates increased about 4 basis points for a 30 year conforming loan. Mortgage rates continue to lag the moves in the overall bond market. “U.S. Treasury yields were volatile over the course of the week, as the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China continued to generate uncertainty among investors,” said Joel Kan, MBA Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting. “Rates increased for the first time since the week of July 12, but were still 80 basis points lower than the beginning of the year. With rates edging higher, refinances and purchase applications fell, at 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively.”

Consumer confidence remains elevated and close to record highs, according to the Conference Board. We are at levels last seen during the stock market bubble days of the late 90s, and the late 60s when we landed on the moon. Given the retail sales data, this could be one of the best holiday shopping periods in a long time.

Filed under: Economy, Morning Report |