Fed Fund Futures Expect Slim Chance of Rate Hike in Near-Term
August 15, 2008
The Fed fund futures market expectations of a rate
hike continue to diminish after today’s modest rise in the
University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index.
Alan Greenspan Sees Housing Prices Sort of Hitting Bottom in mid-2009
August 15, 2008
Greenspan said that he expects housing prices to begin to
stabilize in the first half of 2009 although they could continue
to drift lower for quite some time thereafter, even after essentially
reaching bottom.
Fed's Evans Said U.S. Economy Faces Three-Front Battle
August 15, 2008
The downside risks to growth have recently risen and the economy is
expected to be “extremely sluggish” in 2008, according to one Fed
official on Friday.
Economists Dismiss Boost in U.S. Industrial Production Report
August 15, 2008
Economists say the unexpected boost in the Fed’s industrial
production report doesn’t change the overall trend in the
economy, which is clearly on a downward slope. The report unexpectedly
rose 0.2% in the month of July, against expectations that it would come
in flat, while the previous month’s gain was downwardly revised one-tenth
to 0.4%.
U of Michigan Reuters Consumer Sentiment Improves Half a Point in August
August 15, 2008
The preliminary consumer sentiment survey from
Reuters & the University of Michigan improved half a point to 61.7,
following the previous month’s near five-point rebound. Also, one-year
inflation expectations moved down to 4.8% from July’s 5.1% forecast.
FHA Secure Now Helps More Homeowners Refinance With an FHA Loan
August 15, 2008
Last year, FHA rolled out FHASecure, a loan program designed to help homeowners with adjusting ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages) get a fixed rate. Last month, FHA re-launched FHA Secure with some fresh new guidelines aimed at helping even more homeowners.