February 18th, 2026 8:37 AM by Richard Sardella MLO.100007700/NMLS 233568
Weekly MBA applications rose by 2.8% from the previous week, according to data compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinances jumped 7%. Applications for a mortgage to buy a home fell 3%, with the report reflecting insufficient new supply that drove homebuyers to sit on the sidelines.
December durable goods orders expected at -2.3% were down -1.4%, ex-transportation orders thought to be +0.3% increased +0.9%. Core capital goods increased 0.6% with estimates at 0.2%.
Catching up on housing starts and permits. In November starts were 1.322 million, permits at 1.388 million. In December starts 1.404 million, permits 1.448 million. January still not released.
At 1 pm ET Treasury will sell $16B of 20 year bonds. These days the demand for US debt is important as US debt continues to increase.
At 2 pm the minutes from the January 28th FOMC meeting will be released. Traders always searching for nuggets but normally nothing new and significant comes from the minutes.
Talks between the US and Iran got underway yesterday with Iranian officials saying the talks went well and additional talks will begin in two weeks. The US deployed a second aircraft carrier in case negotiations fail.
PRICES @ 10:00 AM
10 year note: 4.08% +2 bp
5 year note: 3.66% +3 bp
2 year note: 3.47% +2 bp
30 year bond: 4.70% +1 bp
30 year FNMA 5.0: @9:30 am 100.22 -9 bp (-10 bp from 9:30 am yesterday)
30 year FNMA 5.5: @9:30 am 101.52 unch (+2 bp from 9:30 am yesterday)
30 year GNMA 5.0: @9:30 am 100.13 -4 bp (-3 bp from 9:30 am yesterday)
Dollar/Yen: 154.41 +1.13 yen
Dollar/Euro: $1.1820 -$0.0036
Dollar Index: 97.44 +0.29
Gold: $5,003.60 +$97.70
Bitcoin: 67,101 -654
Crude Oil: $64.26 +$1.93
DJIA: 49,751 +218
NASDAQ: 22,760 +181
S&P 500: 6881 +38
Richard Sardella has been actively managing and providing services in the mortgage industry for over 30 years. Richard serves on the board of directors as President of Colorado Home Mortgages Inc.
All information furnished has been forwarded to you and is provided by thetbwsgroup only for informational purposes. Forecasting shall be considered as events which may be expected but not guaranteed. Neither the forwarding party and/or company nor thetbwsgroup assume any responsibility to any person who relies on information or forecasting contained in this report and disclaims all liability in respect to decisions or actions, or lack thereof based on any or all of the contents of this report.
MLO of record MLO.100007700 / NMLS#233568 / CHM NMLS#127716.