Debt Consolidation

   As a result, mortgage rates fell in mixed trading last week. It's the third consecutive week in which rates fell.With data showing neither overt strength nor weakness, and with earnings season about to start, traders got defensive with their money and parked it in bonds.

  Mortgage markets improved last week on fresh concerns about the U.S. economy. This week, rates should be in flux with traders watching 3 things. If balance sheets look healthy and markets are encouraged by the results, it could spark a stock market surge, similar to last quarter. This would be bad for mortgage rates.

   The first is the aforementioned Earnings Season reports.The second item markets will be watching is economic data.

   Retail sales are a key economic indicator because consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the economy. If the data is weak, mortgage rates should benefit. In addition to inflation-related data like the Consumer Price Index, markets are watching for Tuesday's Retail Sales report.

   And, lastly, markets are awaiting the Wednesday release of last month's Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes. Mortgage rates remain volatile. Therefore, if you're actively shopping for a mortgage rate, consider that mortgage rates have been falling for the past 3 weeks and may be due for a reversal.

    The minutes will give a behind-the-scenes look at the conversation and debate surrounding the Fed's decision to hold the Fed Funds Rate near 0.000 percent and not purchase additional treasury securities on the open market. All it would take for that to happen is for this week's economic data to show just a little bit of strength.We could expect traders to pile back into stocks and mortgage rates to suffer.