Morning Report: Bond yields hit a 2017 low on weak data

Vital Statistics:

	Last	Change
S&P Futures	2440.8	2.8
Eurostoxx Index	390.4	1.7
Oil (WTI)	46.1	-0.4
US dollar index	87.9	-44.0
10 Year Govt Bond Yield	2.14%
Current Coupon Fannie Mae TBA	103.31
Current Coupon Ginnie Mae TBA	104.375
30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage	3.95

Stocks are higher this morning ahead of the Fed decision. Bonds and MBS are up, with the 10 year hitting a 2017 low. That sound you hear this morning is the sizzle of bond bears getting roasted over the fire. 

The Fed decision is scheduled to be released at 2:00 pm EST, and there will be a press conference as well. There could be some bond market volatility around that time, so be aware. Things to watch for: a move down in rate forecasts on the dot plot, and discussion about unwinding the balance sheet. 

Mortgage Applications increased 2.8% last week as purchases fell 3% and refis rose 9%. The drop in purchase applications is largely due to technical adjustments to the index due to the Memorial Day holiday. Unadusted, the index was up 19% and is up 8% YOY. The refi percent increased to 45.4%, which was the highest since November. As home price appreciation continues, borrowers with sufficient equity should consider refinancing out of FHA into conventional to save on MI. 

Lower energy prices moved inflation lower in May. The Consumer Price Index fell 0.1% last month and is up 1.9% on a YOY basis. Ex-food and energy, prices rose 0.1% and are up 1.7% YOY. These numbers were lower than street expectations. 

Retail sales fell 0.3% MOM and are flat on a YOY basis. Lower gasoline prices, along with slower motor vehicle sales drove the drop. The core control group was flat, but April was revised upward from 0.2% to 0.6%. On a YOY basis, they were up 3.8%. 

Brokers pretty much got decimated after the financial crisis, but they are coming back, slowly but surely. While subprime is a maybe 2% of what it was during the go-go days, the infrastructure is getting built back. One of the biggest challenges is finding brokers who remember how to do subprime loans. 

Another big question regarding the mortgage market: Where are the boomerang buyers? The people who bought during the boom years, and were foreclosed on early in the bust are now seeing that foreclosure fall off their credit reports. So far, they have been slow to materialize, however high home prices, low affordability, and competition are playing a part.