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Federal Reserve Bank

Yield Curve Enters Kitchen Table Talk

August 12, 2005 | 11:57 pm |

According to Investopedia.com a yield curve is a “graphic line chart that shows interest rates at a specific point for all securities having equal risk, but different maturity dates. For bonds, it typically compares the two- or five-year Treasury with the 30-year Treasury.”



Yield curves have loudly entered the economic discussions. If you grab the red line [Note: Java] in the yield chart, you can see how short term and long term rates have changed in relationship to one another over time.

The traditional economic model for banks is being turned on its head. Banks typically borrow at lower short term rates and lend at higher long term rates, capturing the spread. Since the yield curve is flattening, there is little difference between both rates creating bottom line pressures for lenders.

However, in a recent article in American Banker [Note: Paid Subscription] suggests that the yield curve, when inverted, could actually spell lower mortgage rates next year.

John Herrmann, chief economist at Cantor Viewpoint, a unit of Cantor Fitzgerald …Mr. Herrmann’s outlook is somewhat contrarian. Most economists expect rates to rise as the economy strengthens. But Mr. Herrmann told MSN that mortgage rates could be headed lower – perhaps to 5.25% by the end of the year and eventually “grinding down to 5%” next year.

A deceleration of economic growth, competitive pressure in the mortgage industry, and a trend toward tying 30-year mortgage rates and hybrid loan rates closer to the five-year Treasury rate than the 10-year are all contributing factors, he said.

His reasoning? Without housing, economic growth is way below potential.

[More on yield curves to come…](http://matrix.millersamuel.com/?p=82)


10’s the Charm?: The Fed raises the rate by 25 basis points to 3.5%

August 9, 2005 | 1:50 pm |

FRB: Press Release–FOMC statement and Board discount rate action–August 9, 2005

The Fed does it again. It was surprising to me that they still used the phrase “with robust underlying growth in productivity” since productivity cooled off in the second quarter [Note: Subscription]. However, jobs data improving, it seems more likely that the Fed will continue to raise rates.

However, this doesn’t seem to mean much higher mortgage rates are imminent. The demand for bonds has kept bond prices high and yields low [Note: Subscription] (which most mortgage rates are tied to).

All this ties to real estate through mortgage rates. More on the yield curve to come…



Economically Speaking, Its Beige

August 9, 2005 | 1:01 pm | |

What is the Beige Book and why is it Beige? Prior to 1970 it was red and not intended for public reporting. Perhaps the color was not considered neutral enough for economic reporting – beige seems to be about as neutral as you can get. In 1983, the Beige Book became a public report.

More digging to do on the latter, but here’s the latest…well, not exactly hot off the presses¦Federal Reserve: Beige Book–New York–July 27, 2005

Basically, economic expansion is now more moderate than earlier this year, including retail sales and labor costs and productivity. It is interesting that one of the items that has kept mortgage rates (long term rates) in check for so long has been the fact that productivity has outpaced economic growth. As a result, large corporations have been more likely to refrain from hiring new employees. The limited growth in employment has kept long term rates in check as investors are less concerned about the threat of inflation.

Construction and real estate were robust across the region, but the rate of price increases has slowed. This doesn’t mean prices are falling, it means that the rate of appreciation is slowing.


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Yuan Inflation?

August 8, 2005 | 10:06 am |

Inflation seen as key to Fed policy.

Tomorrow marks the likely 10th 1/4 point increase in the Federal Funds rate since June 2004 and with the jobs report showing growth, an increase seems almost certain.

The Chinese currency [Yuan] was recently strengthened by 2%, which could reek havoc with the housing market if allowed to float as much as 40% to which would be needed to benefit the manufacturing sector. The US would see a competitive advantage in manufacturing, allowing prices to increase, placing upward pressure on rates, tempering activity in the housing sector.

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