Daily Market Update 4/24/09

Mortgage rates were little changed Friday as mortgage-backed securities outperformed Treasurys. In economic news, Durable Goods Orders fell 0.8%, less than forecast. New Home Sales declined 0.6%, beating expectations. Inventories of unsold homes dropped 5.2% in March, providing evidence the housing market may be stabilizing. Stocks and oil prices moved higher, the dollar lower. The latter half of next week will be busy in terms of key economic data. First quarter GDP will be released Wednesday, the same day as the Federal Open Market Committee meeting of the Federal Reserve. The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index will be released Thursday, followed by Friday's Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index. Investors will be watching each of these reports closely for signs of economic stabilization. Once traders consider the worst of the recession to be over, rates will move higher.