By Matthew Graham | Mortgage News Daily
Mortgage Rates skyrocketed Wednesday, relative to their average range of movement. It was the single biggest move higher since the days of the taper tantrum in mid-2013. Virtually all lenders are quoting conventional 30yr fixed rates that are at least an eighth of a point higher versus yesterday. Over the past decade, you can count single-day eighth-point moves without using any toes. Some lenders were a quarter point higher, which has only happened a few times, ever.
The source of the drama is the market’s paradoxical reaction to Trump’s victory. Before the election, news that benefited Trump generally benefited rates. This was logical because Trump connoted uncertainty and rates tend to benefit when investors seek shelter from uncertainty by buying bonds. Indeed, bonds’ first move was tremendously positive when Trump pulled ahead overnight. Everything was going according to plan, and those of us burning the midnight oil expected decent improvements in rates this morning.
