Forecast for the Week 
- Housing data releases begin Wednesday with Existing Home Sales followed by New Home Sales on Friday.
- Thursday is report-heavy with the final reading of third quarter Gross Domestic Product, Durable Goods Orders, Personal Income, Personal Spending and Personal Consumption Expenditures.
- As usual, weekly Initial Jobless Claims also will be report Thursday.
- On Friday, the Consumer Sentiment Index will be delivered.
When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving. When Bond prices 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 are 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, after leveling off for a short time, Mortgage Bonds took a dive recently. Despite the uptick in home loan rates, they still remain historically low.
Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday December 16, 2016)
The Mortgage Market Guide View…
What Do Your Eye Expressions Say?
In any business environment, it’s important to be aware of communication signals you may be inadvertently sending. Your eye expressions, for example, can convey so much with little effort. Understanding that body language is often more about how people interpret your signals, rather than the actual intention behind them, is key. Here are five insights into how people may interpret your eye contact:
Narrowing your eyes is often an involuntary response when you’re concentrating. People can misinterpret this innocent response as anger, disagreement or harsh judgment, especially if you’re looking directly at someone. Practice keeping your eyes open and alert without raising your eyebrows.
Checking the clock is an innocent habit that will signal a lack of interest. Never let anyone think you don’t value their time, even if a meeting is going into overtime. Presence of mind shows you hold people in high regard, which has many business benefits.
Avoiding eye contact, can signal a confidence problem, undermine trust, and if you’re speaking, can convey you don’t have a full grasp of your subject. Correct this issue by occasionally making eye contact for just three seconds with those around you.
Maintaining strong eye contact can be perceived as an intimidation tactic. But the way you break eye contact is important. Looking to the side of a person’s head, rather than looking down, is best.
Rolling your eyes is always a communication killer. Even if you don’t value or agree with what’s being said or you are frustrated, rolling eyes can cause people to shut down, resulting in less information and not accomplishing tasks. Find less conspicuous ways to channel frustration, like pressing the pads of two fingers together.
Eyes aren’t the only communication tools at your disposal. Check out 20 more body language mistakes you could be making.
Please feel free to pass these helpful tips along to your team, clients and colleagues.
Source: American Express OPEN Forum
Economic Calendar for the Week of December 19 – December 23
|
Date
|
ET
|
Economic Report
|
For
|
Estimate
|
Actual
|
Prior
|
Impact
|
| Wed. December 21 |
10:00
|
Existing Home Sales |
Nov
|
NA
|
5.60M
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE |
YOY
|
NA
|
1.7%
|
HIGH
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE |
Nov
|
NA
|
0.1%
|
HIGH
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Personal Spending |
Nov
|
NA
|
0.3%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Personal Income |
Nov
|
NA
|
0.6%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Durable Goods Orders |
Nov
|
NA
|
4.8%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Jobless Claims (Initial) |
12/17
|
NA
|
NA
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
GDP Chain Deflator |
Q3
|
NA
|
1.4%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Thu. December 22 |
08:30
|
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
Q3
|
NA
|
3.2%
|
Moderate
|
|
| Fri. December 23 |
10:00
|
Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) |
Dec
|
NA
|
98.0
|
Moderate
|
|
| Fri. December 23 |
10:00
|
New Home Sales |
Nov
|
NA
|
563K
|
Moderate
|
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Mortgage Info By Michelle Wickett 