INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... Last week was packed with housing market data and the news does keep getting better even though the media hasn't caught on quite yet. Wednesday saw December New Home Sales UP 17.5%, blowing away forecasts with a 329,000 annual rate. The supply of new homes dropped to 6.9 months and the new homes inventory slid to 190,000, down 66.8% from its 2006 peak and at the lowest level since 1968. More good news came with an 8.5% boost in the median home price versus a year ago, to $241,500, its highest level since April 2008. The average home price registered a 4.7% gain compared to a year ago.
Speaking of prices, the Case-Shiller home price index for the 20 largest metro areas was down 0.5% in November, better than expected. Although prices are off 1.6% in the past year, they're still up 1.2% from the low they hit in May 2009. Inspired by the November slip, pundits fretted about a possible "double dip" in housing prices. But a chart of the Case-Shiller index for the 10 largest metro areas shows the trend in prices, adjusted for inflation, is essentially flat, perhaps rising a bit, since early last year. And the nominal value of the index is almost 5% ABOVE its April 2009 low. A rational mind might conclude housing prices have finally bottomed, 5 years after hitting their peak.
Buyers are supporting this notion, sending Pending Home Sales, tracking contracts signed on existing homes, UP 2.0% in December. This report has now had three strong months in a row, so existing homes sales, tracking actual closings, should stay on the increase in January.
>>> Review of Last Week
LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY... Just as we were all set to celebrate an eight-week winning streak for the stock market, Friday treated us to the biggest one-day drop in months, with the Dow falling 166 points on fears over Egyptian unrest. As oil prices rose, investors seeking safety sold off their equity positions, but losses were modest in the end. All three major indexes were down for the week by half a percent or less.
The economic data keeps offering encouragement, but Wall Street always first looks to corporate earnings to gauge how we're doing. Last week saw 14 Dow components reporting Q4 numbers and 11 of them did better than expected. Some missed their revenue targets and issued lukewarm guidance going forward. But overall, the corporate earnings picture continues to show a preponderance of strong performances in spite of the slow rate of economic recovery.
Durable Goods Orders were down in December but this was almost all due to a drop in volatile civilian aircraft. Orders for "core" capital goods are actually UP two months in a row. Weekly initial jobless claims were up, but they included the prior week's claims that were delayed by snowstorms in the South. Housing showed the upbeat signs mentioned above. Best of all, the first estimate for Q4 GDP came in at a 3.2% annual growth rate. This was a little lower than expected, but exports were super strong and consumer spending was UP a very healthy 4.4% annually, its fastest rate in almost five years.
For the week, the Dow ended down 0.4%, at 11824; the S&P 500 was off 0.5%, to 1276; but the Nasdaq dropped just 0.1%, ending at 2687.
Bonds prices were helped by some well-received auctions Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the flight to safety on Friday, courtesy of falling stocks. The FNMA 4.0% bond we watch ended UP 78 basis points for the week, closing at $99.09. This bodes well for mortgage rates, although Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgages reported average fixed-rate mortgage rates inching up slightly, thanks to the strengthening economy. Still, mortgage rates do remain at super low levels.
>>> This Week’s Forecast
FOCUSING ON WHAT THE FED FOCUSES ON... The Fed has a dual mandate of controlling inflation and supporting job growth. What happens with the Fed Funds Rate depends on what's going on in those two areas, which bracket this week's economic news. Monday, we get the Fed's favorite inflation gauge, Core PCE Prices, expected to stay well under control. Friday's January Employment Report is forecast to add 150,000 jobs, which is all to the good, but not enough to prevent the unemployment rate from edging up a tad as the workforce grows.
Other key economic indicators include Monday's Chicago PMI take on Midwest manufacturing, Tuesday's ISM manufacturing index and Thursday's ISM services index. All are expected to continue to show expansion, with readings over 50.
>>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar
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 January 31 – February 4
>>> Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months The Fed's statement coming out of last week's meeting continued to tout their view that the Funds Rate needs to stay at its rock bottom level until the recovery picks up considerably. This week's economic reports shouldn't inspire the Fed to hike the Rate any time soon. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.
Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%:
Probability of change from current policy:
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© 2011 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; IL Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation- lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.
For those in the world of sales, this can be useful information in working to reach others...
Last month we talked about what you can do online to drive traffic to your website. One suggestion was to start blogging. This works well if you can get prospects and clients to keep checking in on what you have to say. So how do you write a blog your audience will want to come back to? Here are some tips for writing those postings:
Remember, a posting is not about selling you. Even though you're writing a blog to help your business, don't think of it that way. Shift your headset from marketing yourself to being a trusted resource. Offer information on topics your prospects and customers are interested in. Think of the things they need to know to achieve their goals. Share headlines you come across that your audience will find interesting and useful. Show you're a trusted resource for information that has value to your readers.
Write your blog posting using this simple formula:
1. Begin by making a connection. Get your reader to identify with you right away. Open with a little story -- it can be funny or touching -- that pulls the reader in. Make it about yourself if you can. Don't be afraid to share a mistake you made or a shortcoming you have that folks can relate to. This will make a deeper connection.
2. Give them the information. This is the meat of the posting, the real topic. Teach the reader something they need to know, give them information they want, or provide useful insights. Make this part memorable and they'll keep coming back for more.
3. Then tell them how to use it. Once you've shared your information or insight, talk about how your reader can apply it. Show how it can help them achieve what they want. People want to learn what will benefit them. And they'll remember you for letting them in on it.
A note about openers. It's great to open your posting with a story from your own experience. But you won't always have something to talk about. So where can you find more openers? Read as much as you can. Search the internet, check out other blogs, look at newspapers, magazines, and books for humorous stories, clever insights, memorable anecdotes, and timely news. You'll be surprised at how many of these items can connect to your topic.
Be a person, not a corporation. Online, you're schmoozing digitally and not face to face, so make sure your personality shines though in your postings. In other words, be human, not corporate. Let your readers know what you're really like. Show them you're someone they'll want to meet and trust.
Keep working on these simple, straightforward approaches to your postings, and you'll have a blog readers will check on. Be the blog more people look forward to and you'll be the business more people will use.... Have a great month!
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© 2011 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; IL Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation- lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... Thursday saw Existing Home Sales shoot up 12.3% in December, to an annual rate of 5.28 million, well ahead of the 4.87 million rate the consensus expected. Overall, existing home sales are off 2.9% compared to a year ago, but that's when sales were artificially boosted by the homebuyer tax credits. All regions showed sales gains in single family homes, condos and coops.
The supply of existing homes dropped to 8.1 months from 9.5 months in November. The pace of existing home sales is up 38% since July and sales are now only around 5% off the long-term trend, which has been a 5.5 million annual pace. All this has happened without government tax credit support. Smart buyers don't want to miss out on housing affordability that's at its highest level in 40 years.
Earlier in the week we saw housing starts drop 4.3% for December to a 529,000 unit annual rate. But colder temperatures and more snow than usual slowed starts in many parts of the country. Home completions actually increased for the month, while building permits shot up a strong 16.7%, to a 635,000 annual rate. We're not out of the woods yet, as permits are off 6.8% from a year ago and starts are down 8.2% compared to last year.
>>> Review of Last Week
SHORT WEEK FALLS SHORT... The holiday shortened week ended its four days of trading with only the Dow ahead, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both dropping a bit. What bothered investors were some Q4 corporate earnings that fell short, plus more worries that China will hike its interest rates to cool down an overheating economy, already growing at about a 10% annual rate.
Earnings disappointments included a couple of the big financials, although three others in the sector beat expectations. Beyond that, General Electric, IBM, and Google all reported strong, better than expected Q4 earnings. GE even went so far as to forecast increasing profits in the years ahead. Apple then showed up to hit the ball out of the park with Q4 revenues up 70.5% year over year, blowing estimates out of the water with ease. But it was unfortunate to learn that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking another indefinite leave to deal with health challenges.
The Empire State Index, which gauges manufacturing in New York, grew to 11.9 in January from 9.9 the previous month, reflecting manufacturing gains across the country. New weekly unemployment claims dropped by 37,000, putting the four-week moving average at 412,000, its lowest level since July 2008. Meanwhile, continuing claims dropped to 3.86 million, their lowest number since October 2008. The Philadelphia Fed Index of manufacturing activity in that region was down in January, but the Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) index was up, better than expected.
For the week, the Dow ended up 0.7%, at 11872; the S&P 500 was off 0.8%, to 1283; and the Nasdaq dropped 2.4%, ending at 2690.
Bonds were under pressure last week, with yields going up as prices headed down. The FNMA 4.0% bond we watch ended down 83 basis points for the week, closing at $98.31. According to Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgages, average fixed-rate mortgage rates changed little, remaining at super low levels. Tame inflation is the reason, with core consumer prices compared to December 2009 up a paltry 0.8%, their smallest yearly gain since 1958.
>>> This Week’s Forecast
THE FED, PLUS OUR FAVORITE TOPIC... There's another Fed meeting this week to grab everyone's attention, but no one expects a hike in the Funds Rate quite yet. The FOMC statement will be closely examined to see how the nation's central bank views our economic recovery. The housing part of that recovery will also be covered with Wednesday's December New Home Sales, expected to be up slightly from the prior month. But Thursday's Pending Home Sales for November should be down slightly for existing homes.
The week is bookended with readings on the consumer. Tuesday's Consumer Confidence and Friday's Michigan Consumer Sentiment are both forecast to be improving in January. Finally, we close the week with the advanced Q4 GDP number, expected to come in at a solid 3.8% annual growth rate.
>>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar
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 January 24 – January 28:
>>> Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months Rumblings have begun that the Fed is sure to hike the Funds Rate in the second half of the year. But with inflation still well under control, economists do not expect any rate increases for the next few months. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.
Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%:
Probability of change from current policy:
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© 2011 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; IL Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation- lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.
