The Labor Department reports initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 3,000 to 250,00 the week ended December 30. Continuing claims fell 37,000 to 1.91 million the week before.
Freddie Mac reports the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.95% this week, down from last week’s 3.99%. A year ago it was 4.20%. The 15-year fixed averaged 3.38% down from 3.44%. A year ago it was 3.44%.
The dollar resumed its weakness against most major currencies this morning, especially against the euro that’s near a three-year high. The buck was up yesterday on the release of December’s Federal Reserve Open Market meeting minutes. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index which gauges greenback against a basket of six currencies, is off almost 0.4% to 91.92.
Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for 1360 KUIK.
