Kevin Hawkins's (kevinhawkins) Blog

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RECENT BLOG POSTS
Last week's lull in economic news will now be followed by a barrage of data from all directions. One report that matters is May Retail Sales, expected to dip slightly overall, but gain slightly when you take out slowing auto sales. The prices we consumers pay will be reflected in the inflation re...
06/14/2011
Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates. Economic Calendar for the Week of June 13 - June 17  Date Time (ET) Release For Consensus Prior Impact TuJun 14 08:30 Retail Sales May -0...
06/14/2011
Effective May 31, 2011, HUD has announced the 2011 Fiscal Year Median Family Income Limits per county. This information impacts loan programs that have Median Income Limitation requirements, such as state bond and many down payment assistance programs. To view the 2010 & 2011 Fiscal Year Median F...
06/06/2011
After all the emotional unrest caused by last week's economic reports, the coming five days will be refreshingly quiet. The Fed's Beige Book on Wednesday is a survey of the current economic and business situation in each of the Federal Reserve Districts around the country. Coming out a couple of ...
06/06/2011
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months...If the Fed pays attention to any of last weeks negativity, they certainly won't put any pressure on the recovery by raising the Funds Rate. That's why economists expect the rate to remain at its super low 0%-0.25% level into next year....
06/06/2011
Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates. Economic Calendar for the Week of June 6 - June 10  Date Time (ET) Release For Consensus Prior Impact WJun 8 10:30 Crude Inventories 6/3 ...
06/06/2011
We watch the stock market to see how professional investors view the economy going forward. Well, their response to this week's disappointing economic data left the Dow recording its fifth straight weekly loss. The highlight was the May Employment Report, with a way weaker than expected growth of...
06/06/2011
Last Tuesday another housing market obstacle appeared in the form of Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Home Price Index for March. Prices for 20 major metro areas dropped 0.8% for the month and were down 3.6% from a year ago. These numbers had some folks claiming the double dip in housing prices had...
06/06/2011
Bond prices were helped by continued fears about European sovereign debt, disappointing economic data and strong auctions. The FNMA 4.0% bond we watch ended the week up .13, closing at $100.19. With mortgage bond prices going up, national average rates for conforming mortgages dropped again last ...
05/31/2011
On the positive side, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported applications for purchase loans UP a seasonally adjusted 1.5% from the week before and UP 3.1% from a year ago. Smart buyers are taking action now. With mortgage rates super low and today's prices, housing affordability in the first ...
05/31/2011
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