Market Perspective

Given the government shutdown, the Federal Reserve being in an easing cycle, and rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China, investors shifted assets to the bond market over the past week. The latest economic data collected by private companies caused little reaction. As a result, mortgage rates ended the week down slightly, near their lowest levels of the year.

The government shutdown left investors without some major economic reports over the past week, leaving mortgage markets relatively quiet. The latest economic data collected by private companies caused little reaction. As a result, mortgage rates ended the week down slightly, near their lowest levels of the year.

New-home sales surged 21% in August, beating expectations. But even as buyer activity picks up, another challenge is quietly growing — one that could impact millions of homeowners across the country.

Mortgage markets experienced little change over the past week. The latest inflation data was in line with expectations, and other economic reports also revealed no market-moving surprises. The government shutdown may delay the release of future economic reports, but it otherwise has had little impact on financial markets so far. As a result, mortgage rates ended the week nearly unchanged.