U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to a record low of 3.62 percent, its 10th such weekly record low in the last 11 weeks, following weak economic data, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said Thursday.
U.S. pending home sales rose 5.9 percent in May, matching a two-year high, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.
Although U.S. home prices inched up in April and new home sales rose to a two-year high in May, the national housing market remains uneven and weak, said a New York-based developer.
Crude oil prices slightly advanced in Asian trading Friday, after plunging to their lowest level in eight months in the previous session.
Most Asian markets fell Friday due to investor concerns following indications of a faltering U.S. economy and the downgrading of global banks by Moody's Investor Service.
U.S. sales of existing homes fell 1.5 percent to an annual rate of 4.55 million units due to low inventory, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday, missing expectations and raising doubts about a housing recovery.
U.S. stock index futures point to a lower opening Thursday after the Department of Labor's initial jobless claims report, which showed that more people than expected filed for unemployment benefits, and the National Association of Realtors' report on existing home sales.
U.S. homebuilder stocks rose Monday after a report indicated that more builders viewed the housing market favorably in June, with confidence hitting the highest level since May 2007.
This week's data releases highlight Wednesday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement, which will likely present a dovish tone. However, those who are expecting for the announcement of renewed asset purchases will likely be disappointed.
U.S. sales of previously owned homes rose 3.4 percent in April, reversing three months of declines and suggesting a stabilization of the housing market, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday.
U.S. home resales rose in April to their highest annual rate in nearly two years and a falloff in foreclosures pushed prices higher, hopeful signs for the country's economic recovery.
Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a slightly lower opening Tuesday ahead of existing home sales data that are expected to show a rise in April sales.
Stocks closed firmly lower Thursday following a choppy start, as rumors of a possible French sovereign debt downgrade and a batch of mixed U.S. data overshadowed improving corporate earnings.
U.S. existing home sales fell 2.6 percent in March to an annual rate of 4.48 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday, missing expectations and highlighting continued weakness in the housing market.
Reports on retail sales and housing starts in March highlight the economic calendar next week, April 16-20. Economists will be watching for any lingering signs of a positive boost from the recent warm weather, as well as indications of whether the strength in consumer demand continues.
Most of March's housing numbers were disappointing, with sales unexpectedly falling across all categories and prices hitting new lows, reversing February's optimism. But the winter market is usually the year's quietest, and spring could see a redemption for the housing market.
U.S. pending home sales fell 0.5 percent in February compared to January, the National Association of Realtors said Monday, missing expectations and heightening concerns the real estate market's recovery may not be as robust as thought by economists.
U.S. existing home sales fell to 4.59 million in February, 0.9 percent below upwardly revised sales figures in January, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said Wednesday.
There were signs of improvement in U.S. housing data released in February, but warmer weather could have been as much of a factor as strengthening market fundamentals, according to industry experts.
U.S. 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates fell to 3.90 percent in the week ending March 1, down from 3.95 percent in the prior week, according to Freddie Mac.
Housing, the weakest of the three legs of the stool supporting the U.S. economy, is finally firming up, or so it seems to investors, economists, real estate agents and buildings after a string of heartening reports so far this year.
U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates rose to 3.95 percent in the week ending Feb. 23 from a record low of 3.87 in the previous week, Freddie Mac said.