September 17th, 2026 9:33 AM by Richard Sardella MLO.100007700/NMLS 233568
Bond Markets started better this morning after the Fed did what was expected, increased the FF rate by 25 bps. Traders came away with the belief there will be another 25 bp increase before the end of the year.
Weekly jobless claims this morning expected at 208K, reported at 196K, -10K from the previous week, the least since the 60-year low of 189,000 from July. Continuing claims, a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, fell by 39,000 to 1,730,000 in the first week, the lowest since January of 2024. The data fortifies that employment remains strong and healthy.
August housing starts and permits, starts expected 1,315 million reported 1.275 million, down 2.6%; permits forecasts 1.40 million reported 1.394 million. Starts the second consecutive decline and the lowest level since October last year. Permits for buildings with five or more units fell 3.1% to 467,000, and single-family permits decreased 1.8% to 878,000. Regionally, permits fell in the Northeast (-15.8% to 128,000), the Midwest (-7.6% to 208,000), the South (-0.4% to 745,000), but rose in the West (1.6% to 313,000).
At 10 am August pending home sales thought to be up 0.4% after July’s decline of 2.3%. Sales +0.3%.
PRICES @ 10:00 AM
10 year note: 4.95% -7 bp
5 year note: 4.80% -8 bp
2 year note: 4.68% -5 bp
30 year bond: 5.30% -6 bp
30 year FNMA 6.5: @9:30 am 101.93 +32 bp
30 year FNMA 6.0: @9:30 am 99.80 +40 bp (+9 bp from 9:30 yesterday)
30 year GNMA 6.5: @9:30 am 101.61 +1 bp
Dollar/Yen: 155.70 -0.59 yen
Dollar/Euro: $1.1489 +$0.0026
Dollar Index: 100.13 -0.12
Gold: $4,398.10 +$10.60
Bitcoin: 76,278 +270
Crude Oil: $101.08 -$1.35
DJIA: 51,682 +220
NASDAQ: 26,331 +353
S&P 500: 7623 +71
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.