• Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 10:00 Freddie Mac Text: Mtg Survey: 30Y Fixed Avg 3.62% Feb 25 Week 0


    WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the text of the latest Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey released Thursday:

    Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing fixed mortgage rates resuming their decline and aiding homebuyer affordability amid a tight supply of for-sale homes in many markets.

    News Facts

    - 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.62 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending February 25, 2016, down from last week when it averaged 3.65 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.80 percent.

    - 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.93 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it...

  • Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 09:57 Canada Sr Finance Off'l: G20 United Fiscal Approach Unlikely 0


    By Courtney Tower

    OTTAWA (MNI) - Despite an IMF call for G-20 countries to follow through on economic growth policies and for an agreed "new mechanism" to contain global economic risks, Canada expects nothing like that to emerge from the session of finance ministers and central bank governors in Shanghai Friday and Saturday.

    Stating what has become obvious to the IMF and other commentators, a senior official of the Canadian department of finance said Thursday there is no agreement on all sides as to what specific measures need to be taken overall.

    Canada agrees with the need to emphasize fiscal policies, spending to encourage short and longer-term growth and will cite to G-20 members its coming infrastructure spending to...

  • Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 09:16 Portfolios:Desjardins Global AM Positioned For More BOC Easing 0

    By Yali N'Diaye
    --Looks to Increase Provincial Bond Exposure, Likes Agency MBS

    OTTAWA (MNI) - In a persistently challenging global economic environment that likely will limit the Federal Reserve tightening to a maximum of one rate hike this year, Canada will continue to suffer from low oil prices with a growth rate of 1% at best, leading the Bank of Canada to ease further, Christian Duceppe, portfolio manager at Desjardins Global Asset Management expects.

  • Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 08:46 Atlanta Fed's Lockhart: Rising Rates a Challenge for US Banks 0


    By Karen Mracek

    NEW YORK (MNI) - Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart said Thursday rising interest rates will be a challenge for U.S. banks in the coming years.

    In brief remarks to kick off the Atlanta Fed's 2016 Banking Outlook Conference, Lockhart reiterated that any decision to raise interest rates by the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee will be data dependent.

    But when they do decide to raise rates again after a 25 basis point increase in December, Lockhart, who is not a voter on the FOMC this year, said it will could present "challenges" to banks that have to deal with higher interest rate risks.

    Lockhart also said slower growth abroad and a strong dollar are posing downside...

  • Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 08:30 US Data: States With The Largest Changes In Claims, NSA 0


    WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are the changes in unadjusted initial claims by state for the week ended January 30.

  • Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 08:25 NY Fed Adds Employment Expectations, Others to Consumer Survey 0

    By Karen Mracek
    --38% of Respondents Expect Unemployment Rate to Be Higher One-Year Ahead
     --37% of Respondents Expect to Be Better Off Financially in 12 Months

    NEW YORK (MNI) - The New York Federal Reserve Bank said Thursday it was adding five new data points to its two-year old Survey of Consumer Expectations which measures household's expectations about a variety of issues including inflation.

    These changes "will help the public gain a fuller understanding of the perceptions and expectations of U.S.