This week’s calendar has a number of key reports beginning Monday with March retail sales and the NY Empire State manufacturing index. The benchmark 10 yr note ended last week at 1.99% an improvement of 6 basis points in rates on the week. Europe’s debt crisis resurrected a week ago increasing safety moves into treasuries and global economic conditions are slowing somewhat; the two factors driving rates back down. Mortgage interest rates on 30s were down about 5 basis points last week. With the current view that Europe and China are slowing, and the US although growing is also slowing based on the data on employment over the last two weeks.
Mortgage rates are within 10 basis points of their best levels. Europe’s debt issues, a present view that global economies will slow has increased the belief the Fed will likely do more easing; it all depends on the data we see this week. Next week the FOMC will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday with the policy statement that is expected to confirm the Fed is thinking about easing. The previous meeting’s policy statement disappointed as there was no mention that the Fed was thinking an easing move.
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