Forecast for the Week

This week’s reports cover a broad spectrum of the economy. Plus, corporate earnings will also give us a read on how the economy is performing.

• Economic data kicks off on Tuesday with Retail Sales.
• We’ll get an update on the manufacturing sector with the Empire State Index on Wednesday and the Philadelphia Fed Index on Thursday.
• Two key inflation reports are ahead: the wholesale-measuring Producer Price Index will be released Wednesday, followed by the Consumer Price Index on Friday.
• Thursday brings Weekly Initial Jobless Claims.
• Housing news begins Thursday with the NAHB Housing Market Index. Housing Starts and Building Permits will be released Friday.
• Also on Friday, the Consumer Sentiment Index will be released.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based.

When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving——and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.

To go one step further——a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.

As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds reversed course mid-week. Home loan rates remain attractive and near historic lows.

Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday July 10, 2015)

The Mortgage Market Guide View…

4 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand

Building your personal brand takes time. How much time? However long it takes you to establish trust, giving the people you want to do business with a solid sense of your competency. Here are a few ideas to help you speed things up:

Leverage peer praise by looking for any and every opportunity to ask your clients and other business contacts to write a LinkedIn recommendation that sings your praises. Social proof is credible and influential.

Host an event and invite both clients and potential contacts. When new people rub elbows with other associates who love what you do, your reputation has a chance to spread faster.

Write articles for local news or trade publications, or check with local radio and television stations to see if they need a regularly appearing guest. Get copies and send them out to your database. Giving value to your specific marketplace highlights your expertise and experience.

Speak in public and invite crucial connections to your talks or business development seminars. Even if they might not personally benefit from the information, they will be interested to see your confidence and know-how in action.

As always, feel free to pass these helpful tips along to your team, clients and colleagues!

Source: The Ackert Advisory

Economic Calendar for the Week of July 13 – July 17

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