Products, Services, and Software for Brokers and Lenders Curious when a shift from best efforts to mandatory delivery makes sense or how to sharpen an existing hedging strategy? Optimal Blue’s Hedging 101: The Benefits of Mandatory Delivery offers a clear look at the fundamentals that shape effective secondary marketing execution. In this Jan. 27 session, industry leaders Jim Glennon, SVP of hedging and trading operations, and Brad Eskridge, capital markets solutions specialist, will cover the core principles of hedging, available tools, and key operational and economic considerations when choosing mandatory delivery over best efforts. You’ll also see how Optimal Blue’s hedge advisory, analytics, and modeling support more confident, data‑driven decisions. Whether you are evaluating a move to mandatory or refining your current approach, join us on Jan. 27 at 12 p.m. CT to see how a stronger, more confident hedging approach can enhance your execution. Register today. Planet has strengthened its correspondent sales team with the addition of Scott Henley, a mortgage industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience across correspondent, retail, and capital markets. Supporting correspondent partners across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colorado, Scott brings a practical, informed perspective shaped by experience on all sides of the table and helps lenders align delivery strategies with their business goals. That approach is supported by Planet’s correspondent platform, which offers competitive pricing, broad product offerings, and flexible execution across best efforts, mandatory, and AOT. Lenders can deliver through flow, bulk, and all co-issue options using a fast, highly automated process designed to reduce friction and support scalable growth. Meet Scott Henley and Jason Mac Gloan, SVP of Correspondent Sales, at Texas MBA Southern Secondary next month in Houston, or connect directly to discuss your correspondent strategy. Scott Henley (469-498-1783) or Jason Mac Gloan (843-625-6869). Learn more.

Mortgage rates may not be as low as they were before the weekend’s geopolitical headlines, but they’ve moved just a hair lower on each of the past two days. Specifically, our daily rate index is down to 6.19% after starting the week at 6.21% on Tuesday (up from 6.07% last Friday). While there was a large glut of seemingly important economic data today, it didn’t have a noticeable impact on the bond market. Part of the reason is that the data in question is very stale at this point.  The most recent monthly data covered November and the GDP release was for Q3 (July-Sep). Timeliness aside, the data was also very close to forecasts. There’s even less on the calendar tomorrow, but markets remain susceptible to geopolitical risk and any headlines that speak to the fiscal outlook (tariffs, spending, etc). 

Bonds found a bid along with stocks yesterday afternoon after Trump announced a “framework of a deal” on Greenland.  Markets were much less interested in U.S. access and more concerned with pausing the more immediate market-related implications (new tariffs and changes in foreign demand for Treasuries). This notion was reinforced this morning as there was no reaction at all to new comments saying the U.S. would have “total access” to Greenland with “no time limit.” 
The early round of econ data also failed to inspire, although that’s no surprise given the stale nature of GDP and generally limited impact of weekly jobless claims (in addition to the fact that jobless claims are sticking to the same script seen in the past 2 years).

All that remains is the PCE inflation data at 10am ET, but it should be noted this is for the months of Oct/Nov and that we’ve already received CPI/PPI inflation reports for December.  Data aside, yields have been trending gradually higher in concert with European markets, but Treasuries still retain a majority of yesterday’s gains.

A retail channel veteran, Promisco has spoken frequently about the potential of AI to bring efficiency and lower costs in the loan origination process.

The $13 billion auction was awarded at 4.846%, about a basis point lower than its yield in trading just before 1 p.m.

An index of contract signings decreased 9.3% to 71.8 last month, according to data released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors.

The Supreme Court Wednesday appeared skeptical of the Justice Department’s argument that removal of a Federal Reserve governor is unreviewable or that the president’s preference for Fed governors outweighs the harm to the Fed from curbing the central bank’s political independence.

Executives surveyed by American Banker said companies vying to wrestle market share from banks are a major threat to operations in the coming year.

Bonds Recovering a Bit After “Framework of a Deal” on Greenland

Geopolitics have been front and center for financial markets over the past 2 days with both stocks and bonds taking clear cues from newswires pertaining to tariff brinksmanship, trade deal negotiations, foreign wealth fund participation, and ultimately, the late-day announcement of a “framework of a deal” regarding Greenland. Details are in short supply, but the most important development being a pause on the plan to implement new tariffs on February 1st. Markets are cautiously trading this as a win for now with stocks and bonds at the best levels of the week, but definitely not back in line with last week’s levels. 

Econ Data / Events

MBA Purchase Index (Jan)/16

194.1 vs 184.6 prev

MBA Refi Index (Jan)/16

1580.8 vs 1313.1 prev

Pending Home Sales

71.8 vs 79.2 prev

Market Movement Recap

09:54 AM choppy, sideways overnight session and little-changed so far. MBS up 2 ticks (.06) and 10yr down 1bp at 4.286

01:25 PM reasonably well received 20yr bond auction.  10yr down 3 bps at 4.266 and MBS up an eighth.

02:57 PM Best levels of the day after Greenland-related tariff pause and word of a “deal framework.”  MBS up 6 ticks (.19) and 10yr down 4.6bps at 4.25

What’s said in the online video, which replicates the president’s voice with his permission, may be as important to lenders as how the message is delivered.