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Friday, November 15, 2013

Morning Report - Private entities trying to force something with Fan and Fred

Vital Statistics:

Last Change Percent
S&P Futures  1791.2 3.5 0.20%
Eurostoxx Index 3057.4 3.7 0.12%
Oil (WTI) 93.88 0.1 0.13%
LIBOR 0.238 0.000 -0.15%
US Dollar Index (DXY) 80.88 -0.141 -0.17%
10 Year Govt Bond Yield 2.70% 0.01%  
Current Coupon Ginnie Mae TBA 105.7 -0.2
Current Coupon Fannie Mae TBA 104.6 -0.1
RPX Composite Real Estate Index 200.7 -0.2
BankRate 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage 4.34

Markets are higher on no real news. Bonds and MBS are down small. 

The Empire Manufacturing Survey came in lower than expected and import prices fell. Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization fell.

Bill Ackman has taken a 10% stake in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and may seek talks. This comes on the back of Fairholme's bid to buy the insurance units of Fan and Fred. Fairholme's bid would probably be denied by the government. Many in the financial community view the government's changing the terms of the bailout just as Fannie and Fred became profitable as dirty pool. The government owns 80% of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's stock and doesn't have to do anything it doesn't want to, but it certainly cannot relish the thought of dueling in the press with guys like Ackman, Pauson, and Berkowitz. 

Housing affordability fell in the third quarter as prices rose and interest rates increased, according to the NAHB.

Janet Yellen's testimony was pretty much as predicted. She is a dove. Reading the tea leaves, however it appears she is in no rush to begin tapering. Punch line:  I don't know how you could have come out of that meeting thinking "I gotta short some bonds, right here." Here is my longer take on it from yesterday: http://thenadtearsheet.blogspot.com/2013/11/janet-yellen-data-dump_14.html 

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