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Malaysian Industrial Production Mixed in March

Malaysian industrial production in February rose on year, but declined from January, the latter decline due to easing exports.Malaysia's industrial production index rose 3.1% on year in February, but tumbled 9.2% from January, reported Malaysia's Department of Statistics (DOS).The nation's manufacturing output rose 4.2% on year in February, while electricity production rose by 4.6% on year, and that of mining production fell by 2%, according to the DOS.But output manufactured goods intended for export slid in February, from January."On a month-on-month basis, output of export-oriented industries in February decreased by 8.1%" from January, explained the DOS.On year in February, Malaysian output of apparel fell 1.8% on year, while that of petroleum and related products fell 2.1% and that of transportation products declined 3.5%, reported DOS.In contrast, output of electronic goods rose 12.9% on year in February, driven in part of production of semiconductors and other tech gadgets.The official Malaysia February industrial production report was roughly in with recent manufacturing-sector purchasing manager index (PMI) reports from S&P Global.Malaysia's manufacturing PMI for March rose to a seasonally adjusted 50.7, up from 49.3 in February, and striking above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI

EMEA Natural Gas Update: Futures Rise Over 2% as Middle East Ceasefire Turns Fragile

European natural gas futures were up on Thursday, rebounding from their five-week low the day before, after continuing Israeli strikes in Lebanon added to the uncertainties surrounding the ceasefire.The front-month Dutch TTF contract was up 2.43% at 46.40 euros ($54.11) per megawatt-hour, while UK NBP futures were up 2.53% to 117.14 pence ($1.56) per therm.The two-week ceasefire agreed upon by the US, Israel, and Iran is facing a point of contention involving Lebanon, which continued to be attacked, which Tehran has called a breach of the truce.On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that the ceasefire terms were "clear and explicit," and included a halt to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.Meanwhile, in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that US forces will "remain in place" in Iran until a complete agreement is reached.Trump also warned that if an agreement is not reached within these two weeks, then the US will restart its offensive against Tehran, "bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before."This highlights the fragility of the truce, with lingering uncertainties continuing to keep global energy and equity markets on edge, even as it marked a major de-escalation.Despite Trump's statements, the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut for the sixth-week running, with just 11 vessels transiting through it over the past 24 hours, according to the Hormuz Strait Monitor.This is in stark contrast to the typical daily average of 138 vessels moving through the Strait during normal times, according to the UK's Joint Maritime Information Center.According to Daniel Hynes, a senior commodity strategist at ANZ, even with the Straits reopening, the markets will have to sail through "higher prices, inventory drawdowns and demand rationing," as it would take time for major production and export facilities to come online.This comes at a time when European markets are stepping into refilling season, with significantly depleted inventories, at just 28.77%, compared to 35% last year, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe.

Libya's Ghadames Basin Yields New Gas, Condensate Discovery

Libya's state-owned National Oil, and Sonatrach confirmed a significant oil and gas discovery at the A1-69/02 exploration well in the Ghadames Basin, NOC said on Wednesday.Located approximately 70 kilometers from the Wafa field, the A1-69/02 well reached a final depth of 8,440 feet and testing has yielded initial production rates of 13 million cubic feet of gas and 327 barrels of condensate per day, it said.The discovery represents the sixth well drilled by the Sonatrach under a 2008 exploration and production sharing agreement with two wells remaining in the current eight-well program.

Asia Markets84d ago

South Korean Shares Close Lower amid Israel's Beirut Attack, US-Iran Ceasefire Under Strain

South Korean shares closed lower on Thursday after Israel violated the US-Iran truce and attacked Lebanon's capital, Beirut, on Wednesday.Investors remained skeptical about the longevity of the ceasefire amid the recent attack, as Tehran prepares to engage in talks with the US in Islamabad from Friday. The development also clouded the potential reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz in the near term.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi fell 94.33 points, or 1.6%, to end at 5,778.01. The Kosdaq also decreased by 13.85 points, or 1.3%, to close at 1,076.Israel hit Beirut without warning on Wednesday, hours after the US and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire. The strikes killed at least 250 people and wounded 890, according to AFP.In corporate news, Hanwha Ocean (KRX:042660) secured an order for two very large crude carriers from an Oceania-based shipowner, according to a Thursday filing with the Korea Exchange. The contract, valued at 393.3 billion won, is valid till Jan. 4, 2030.Shares of Hanwha Ocean fell more than 3% at market close.

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RBC Capital Markets Raises Commodity Price Outlook for 2026-28

RBC Capital Markets has raised its commodity price outlook due to the potentially long-lasting impact of the conflict between the US and Iran.The analysts said the tightening of supply and demand fundamentals has prompted them to raise their 2026-2028 equilibrium price for Brent/WTI by $10 to $80/$75 and Henry Hub natural gas by $0.25 to $4.00 per million cubic feet."This move reflects ongoing collateral damage in the Gulf region and a rising call on barrels globally from an energy security standpoint," RBC's research note said.It added that share buy-back activities were likely to slow given the recent sharp rise in equities valuations, up by more than 50% in the calendar year so far.In terms of trading ideas, RBC highlighted ConocoPhillips (COP) and EOG Resources (EOG) among large players, California Resources (CRC), Permian Resources (PR) and Chord Energy Group (CHRD) among small to medium and Expand Energy Corp (EXE) in gas.RBC said it had raised its EPS-to-cash flow per share estimates by an average 45% to reflect its revised commodity price expectations with oil players in this basket generally up closer to 55%.In keeping with this, price targets have been raised 27% on average, the note said.

$CHRD$COP$CRC$EOG$EXE$PR

RBC Lifts Oil, Gas Forecasts Amid Enormous Middle East Supply Shock

Global oil and natural gas price forecasts have been sharply revised higher following the latest escalation in the Middle East, with RBC Capital Markets citing an "enormous oil supply shock" and no clear path to de-escalation.In a research report published on Wednesday, the bank said that it now sees Brent crude averaging $90.99 per barrel in 2026, up 51.3% from its prior estimates, with the West Texas Intermediate expected at $83.63 per barrel, a 49.3% upward revision.Similarly, RBC raised its natural gas outlook, with Henry Hub prices seen at $4.07 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit, up 7%. In contrast, European gas prices are expected to more than double, with the UK NBP forecasts at $16.51 per MMBtu.The report said that expectations of normalization in European gas prices had been "upended," as Asian buyers seek out alternative supplies, competing directly with buyers within the bloc.Globally, around one-fifth of LNG supply has been taken offline due to the Iran conflict. However, RBC noted that increased capacity additions and weaker Chinese demand could partially cushion the shock.The bank's analysts also moved their natural gas liquids forecast higher, attributing it to replacement demand for propane and butane, flows of which have been disrupted during the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis.

EMEA Oil Update: Prices Bounce as Middle East Truce Hopes Fade

Brent futures gained over 2% on Thursday erasing a portion of yesterday's historic losses as diplomatic friction threatened the newly brokered US-Iran ceasefire deal.The Brent futures contract gained over 2% to $96.97 per barrel. Murban closed at $97.64 on April 8 and was not trading as of the time of publishing this oil price update."Prices rebounded as fighting in the Middle East continued, and the ceasefire outlook deteriorated, keeping uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz firmly in focus," ING analysts noted.After crashing below $100 in the last session, oil prices are rebounding today as the fragile truce faces immediate accusations of non-compliance."Optimism over the ceasefire faded after Tehran said several terms of the agreement had been breached," ING analysts said.The reversal follows a statement from Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who claimed on social media that the US has already violated the 10-point framework proposed by Tehran.In a Wednesday post on X, Ghalibaf said Washington had breached three clauses of a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran. He cited what he described as non-compliance with a ceasefire in Lebanon, the reported intrusion of a US drone into Iranian airspace, and the denial of Iran's right to uranium enrichment."With a full reopening of the strait unlikely in the near term, oil prices are expected to remain supported, as disruptions linked to reduced output and refinery shutdowns will take time to unwind," ING analysts added.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$CCL$CVX$DAL$LUV$META$NCLH$RCL$UAL$XOM

Equities Mark Best Finish in At Least 4 Weeks Following US-Iran Truce

Equities on Wall Street rallied Wednesday, driving key indexes to their highest close in at least four weeks, as oil prices slid following a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.9% to 47,909.9, the highest close since March 5, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.8% to 22,635, its best finish since March 11.The S&P 500 advanced 2.5% to 6,782.8, marking the highest closing level since March 9.Barring energy's 3.7% decline, all sectors ended in the green, led by industrials' 3.8% advance.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last down nearly 15% at $96.44 a barrel, while Brent futures tumbled about 12% to $96.40 -- though both benchmarks remained well above pre-conflict levels.US President Donald Trump, who had set an 8 pm ET, Tuesday, deadline for Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iran for two weeks upon Pakistan's request. Tehran said it would allow "safe passage" through the key trading route, subject to coordination with Iranian authorities.However, reports about ceasefire violations signified the possible fragile nature of the pact.Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement.The White House said Iran assured that ships are transiting the Strait of Hormuz, despite reports that Tehran had again closed the waterway because of Israel's attacks on Lebanon, CNN reported.Separately, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reportedly said they were targeted with Iranian drones and missiles."The headlines may calm down first, but the real reset depends on what happens in the days ahead," Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Bank, said in a report.US Treasury yields were down, with the 10-year rate falling 5 basis points at 4.3% and the two-year rate dropping 4.1 basis points at 3.79%.Minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting showed that participants emphasized the need for the central bank to be "nimble" in adjusting monetary policy amid heightened macro risks."The vast majority of participants judged that upside risks to inflation and downside risks to employment were elevated, and the majority of participants noted that these risks had increased with developments in the Middle East," the minutes showed.Most policymakers were concerned that a prolonged war could soften labor market conditions, possibly warranting policy easing, according to the minutes. However, persistent inflation amid higher oil prices could call for rate increases."The conflicting viewpoints point to a period of policy stability," Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said in a report. "The Fed is on hold until it has greater clarity on the direction of the Iran war and its effects on the economy and inflation."Airline and cruise operator stocks jumped, with Carnival (CCL) up 11%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500. United Airlines (UAL) surged 7.8%. Southwest Airlines (LUV) and American Airlines (AAL) were also up, along with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL).In company news, Meta Platforms (META) shares jumped 6.5% after the tech giant unveiled its Muse Spark artificial intelligence model.Delta Air Lines (DAL) logged better-than-expected first-quarter results amid robust corporate and leisure demand. The air carrier's shares rose 3.8%.Exxon Mobil (XOM) expects its global oil-equivalent output to take a hit in the first quarter due to production disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Shares of the US oil giant fell 4.7%, while smaller rival Chevron (CVX) slumped 4.3%, the steepest decline on the Dow.Gold was last up 1.4% at $4,750.70 per troy ounce, while silver gained 3.4% to $74.44 per ounce.

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Wealth Brokers, Investment Banks Faced Uneven First-Quarter Activity, UBS Says

Wealth brokers and investment banks faced uneven market activity in the first quarter due to geopolitical uncertainty, UBS Securities said in client note sent Wednesday.For the first quarter, UBS is projecting earnings per share to be down 7% quarter on quarter and up 22% annually for wealth brokers. For investment banks, the broker is looking at a 29% slump in EPS on a quarterly basis and an 11% jump year over year."For wealth brokers, growth was tempered by lower March market levels, though retail trading picked up on volatility," UBS analysts, including Michael Brown, wrote. "Organic growth was solid versus expectations, with the setup improving into (2026)."Meanwhile, momentum faded for investment banks during the quarter as pipelines shrank from the year end, "with some deals likely paused pending macro clarity, creating an activity air pocket," Brown said.Late Tuesday, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The war, which began at the end of February, spread across the Middle East and curtailed shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.UBS named Charles Schwab (SCHW) and Stifel Financial (SF) as its top picks heading into the first-quarter earnings season, saying Evercore (EVR) is "favorably positioned." Moelis (MC), Lazard (LAZ), and Raymond James Financial (RJF) are expected to "lag on a relative basis," according to the brokerage.UBS upgraded LPL Financial (LPLA) to buy, citing an attractive valuation.UBS lowered its price targets for wealth brokers and investment banks by 8% and 2% on average, respectively.The brokerage expects artificial intelligence to be a key topic at the upcoming earnings season for wealth brokers."In the wealth space, we expect AI to improve advisor productivity, though see risks to sweep cash economics and to market share of advised assets," Brown said. "Ultimately, we see these threats as slower moving than the bears think and see forward-looking firms as well positioned to adapt and thrive."

Fed Should be 'Nimble' Amid War-Driven Macro Risks, March Meeting Minutes Show

The Federal Reserve should be "nimble" in adjusting monetary policy in light of heightened risks to inflation and employment driven by the Middle East conflict, minutes from the central bank's March 17-18 meeting showed Wednesday.At the meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its policy rate unchanged between 3.50% and 3.75% for a second straight time amid uncertainty around the US-Israel war with Iran. The FOMC's Summary of Economic Projections at the time continued to indicate potential policy easing this year."In light of the heightened degree of economic uncertainty, participants emphasized the importance of being nimble in adjusting the stance of policy in response to incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks," the meeting minutes showed Wednesday. "Many participants judged that, in time, it would likely become appropriate to lower the target range for the federal funds rate if inflation were to decline in line with their expectations."A couple of policymakers pushed their expected timing of potential policy easing "further into the future," according to the document."The vast majority of participants judged that upside risks to inflation and downside risks to employment were elevated, and the majority of participants noted that these risks had increased with developments in the Middle East," the minutes showed.On Tuesday, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The war, which began at the end of February, spread across the Middle East and curtailed shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, driving up energy prices.West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank nearly 15% to $96.34 a barrel intraday, while Brent futures tumbled 12% to $96.55. Despite the declines, oil prices remained well above pre-war levels."Our baseline view is that as the (energy price) shock gradually fades, so too will inflation pressures," TD Economics Senior Economist Andrew Hencic said in a note Wednesday. "This may open the door for the Fed to normalize rates in the latter half of the year."Most policymakers were concerned that a prolonged war could soften labor market conditions, possibly warranting additional policy easing, the meeting minutes showed Wednesday.Earlier this month, official data showed that the economy added more jobs than expected in March, while the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3% from 4.4% sequentially."Many participants pointed to the risk of inflation remaining elevated for longer than expected amid a persistent increase in oil prices, which could call for rate increases to help bring inflation down to the committee's 2% objective and keep longer-term inflation expectations firmly anchored," according to the latest meeting minutes. "Participants anticipated that, under appropriate monetary policy, inflation would gradually move down toward the committee's 2% objective after the effect of increased tariffs and higher oil prices had faded."Markets widely expect the FOMC to keep interest rates unchanged later this month, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Treasury84d ago

US Treasury Closing Levels

3:00 Wednesday vs 3:00 Tuesday2yr 100-05 vs 100-02; 3.790% vs 3.829%5yr 99-25+ vs 100-18+; 3.918% vs 3.971%10yr 98-21+ vs 98-09+; 4.289% vs 4.337%30yr 97-27+ vs 97-12; 4.885% vs 4.915%2/10 49.745 bps vs 50.551 bps5/30 96.448 bps vs 94.366 bps

CarMax Poised For Fourth-Quarter Beat Amid Better Industry Trends, RBC Says

CarMax's (KMX) fiscal fourth-quarter results are likely to come in better than expected amid improved industry trends, RBC Capital Markets said in a note sent to clients Wednesday.The used-vehicle retailer is scheduled to release its quarterly and full-year results next Tuesday.RBC continues to expect fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.34 per share for the company, ahead of Wall Street's forecast that the brokerage put at $0.20. RBC now expects a 4.4% year-over-year drop in revenue, compared with its previous estimate of a 6.8% slump. The market view calls for a 5.6% decline."The raise is driven by several data sources pointing to better overall industry trends," RBC analyst Steven Shemesh wrote.Shares of CarMax were up 4.4% in Wednesday afternoon trade amid a broad rally on Wall Street following a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.On Tuesday, Cox Automotive said wholesale prices of used vehicles in the US last month hit the highest point since summer 2023 as demand remained robust despite the Middle East conflict."The broader category seems to have improved and it's difficult at this point to decipher how much of the improvement stemmed from recent company-specific actions," Shemesh said. "On the call, we'll be looking for specific evidence that these actions are driving results."RBC has a sector perform rating on CarMax's stock and a $37 price target."We skew slightly more cautious on the sustainability of recent momentum, especially as gas prices rise, offsetting the benefit of higher tax refunds (year over year) and weighing on consumer confidence," Shemesh said.Price: $45.50, Change: $+2.19, Percent Change: +5.06%

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Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$CCL$CVX$DAL$LUV$META$NCLH$RCL$UAL$XOM

Equity Markets Jump Intraday, Oil Sinks Following US-Iran Ceasefire

US benchmark equity indexes rallied intraday, while oil prices slumped after Washington and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.The Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.9% to 22,651.5 after midday Wednesday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.6% to 47,803.5. The S&P 500 advanced 2.4% to 6,778.6. Barring energy's 4.6% decline, all sectors were in the green, led by a 3.9% rise in communication services.West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank 15% to $95.85 a barrel intraday, while Brent futures tumbled 13% to $95.40.US President Donald Trump, who had set an 8 pm ET, Tuesday, deadline for Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iran for two weeks upon Pakistan's request. Tehran said it would allow "safe passage" through the key trading route, subject to coordination with Iranian authorities.However, reports about ceasefire violations signified the possible fragile nature of the pact."While markets are hailing the agreement as cause for celebration, it remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold, and if flows resume through the Strait of Hormuz," Stifel said in a note.Iran halted oil tanker traffic through the waterway after Israel attacked Lebanon, CNN reported Wednesday, citing semi-official news agency Fars. Separately, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reportedly said they were targeted with Iranian drones and missiles.Airline and cruise operator stocks jumped intraday, with Carnival (CCL) up 11%, the top gainer on the S&P 500. United Airlines (UAL) surged 9.9%, among the best performers on the index. Southwest Airlines (LUV) and American Airlines (AAL) were also up sharply, along with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL).US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 6.4 basis points at 4.28% and the two-year rate dropping six basis points to 3.77%.In company news, Meta Platforms (META) shares soared 7.9%, among the best performers on the S&P 500, after the tech giant unveiled its Muse Spark artificial intelligence model.Delta Air Lines (DAL) logged better-than-expected first-quarter results amid robust corporate and leisure demand. The air carrier's shares were up 5.8% intraday.Exxon Mobil (XOM) expects its global oil-equivalent output to take a hit in the first quarter due to production disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Shares of the US oil giant were down 5.9%, while smaller rival Chevron (CVX) fell 5.5%, the steepest decline on the Dow.Gold was up 1.7% at $4,764.70 per troy ounce, while silver gained 4.7% to $75.35 per ounce.

The North West Company Q4 Adjusted Earnings Lower

The North West Company (NWC.TO), up near 6% on last look, on Wednesday reported lower fourth-quarter adjusted earnings.The company, which operates grocery stores in Canada's North and the Caribbean, said adjusted earnings, excluding most one-time items, edged down to $43.5 million, from $44.6 million, in the prior year period. The company did not provide per share amounts.Sales for the fourth quarter rose 0.1% to $675.5 million. Analysts polled by FactSet had forecast sales of $658.0 million. Higher sales in the company's international operations sales were largely offset by lower sales in Canada.Canadian same store sales , down 2.8% compared to very strong same store sales gains last year of 6.7%, were negatively impacted by a decrease in the distribution of funding to individuals from First Nations Child and Family Services programs, North West added.North West also said refinanced its $400.0 million and US$52.0 million loan facilities that were originally maturing March 1, 2027. The loan facilities, refinanced with existing lenders, will now mature April 8, 2031.The company will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.41 per share on April 24, to shareholders of record on April 15.North West Company shares were last seen up $3.03 to $55.25 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.Price: $55.21, Change: $+2.99, Percent Change: +5.73%

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US-Iran Truce Outlook Unclear, Analysts Caution Amid Reports of Ceasefire Violations

Markets hailed a two-week pause in hostilities between the US and Iran, though analysts raised questions about the durability of the truce, with ceasefire violations already making headlines.Global equity markets rallied Wednesday and oil prices plunged below $100 per barrel following an agreement between Washington and Tehran to pause their military conflict that had spread across the Middle East.Trump, who had set an 8 pm ET deadline on Tuesday for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iran for two weeks upon Pakistan's request. Tehran said it would allow "safe passage" through the key trading route, subject to coordination with Iranian authorities."While markets are hailing the agreement as cause for celebration, it remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold, and if flows resume through the Strait of Hormuz," Stifel Chief Economist Lindsey Piegza said in a report.Reports about ceasefire violations kept investors on the edge, signifying the possible fragile nature of the pact.Iran halted oil tanker traffic through the waterway after Israel attacked Lebanon, CNN reported, citing semi-official news agency Fars. Separately, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reportedly said they were targeted with Iranian drones and missiles.Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who along with Field Marshal Asim Munir helped broker the truce, said in a post on X that ceasefire violations "undermine the spirit of peace process.""The ceasefire effectively halts imminent large-scale strikes and creates space for negotiations, but it does not resolve the underlying conflict or infrastructure damage," said Suvro Sarkar, head of energy, renewables and infra research at DBS Bank, said. "Two weeks is a very narrow window, and the structural damage to supply chains runs deep."The focus shifts to Iran's 10-point proposal to the US, which includes the lifting of sanctions against Iran, recognition of Iran's enrichment program and continued control over the Strait of Hormuz, according to media reports."If this is truly the basis of negotiation, talks will likely be difficult as some (of) these terms, particularly control of the strait, are likely unpalatable for regional powers with it being reported that Iran still intends to charge a toll for passage," Tudor Pickering Holt analyst Matt Portillo said in a note e-mailed to.

US 10-Year Auction High Yield Rises From Previous Auction, Demand Lower

The US Treasury's 10-year auction hit a high yield of 4.282% on Wednesday, up from the 4.217% high in the previous auction.The bid to cover ratio for the auction was 2.43, below the 2.45 ratio in the previous auction.Dealers represented 54.17% of the bids, with direct bidders at 11.93% and indirect bidders at 33.90%.For takedown, dealers took 10.80%, with direct bidders at 23.88% and indirect bidders at 65.32%.

US 10-Year High Yield 4.282% vs 4.217% Previous; Bid/Cover 2.43 vs 2.45 Previous

Weekly Mortgage Applications Decrease Amid Elevated Rates, Economic Uncertainty

Mortgage applications in the US fell last week amid elevated rates and continued macro uncertainty, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday.The market composite index, which measures loan application volume, dropped 0.8% for the week through Friday on a seasonally adjusted basis. Without adjustments, the index decreased 1% week over week."Higher mortgage rates and continued economic uncertainty weighed down on mortgage applications again last week," said Joel Kan, the MBA's deputy chief economist. "Many potential refinance borrowers have been frozen out by the sharp increase (in mortgage rates) over the past month."In late March, mortgage rates jumped to 6.38% from 5.98% at the end of the previous month, real estate marketplace Zillow Group (Z, ZG) said earlier this week, citing Freddie Mac data.Late Tuesday, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The war, which began at the end of February, spread across the Middle East and curtailed shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, driving up energy prices.The average interest rate for 30-year fixed mortgages with conforming loan balances of $832,750 or less fell to 6.51% from 6.57% a week ago, the MBA reported Wednesday. For loan balances higher than that amount, the rate dropped to 6.54% from 6.59%. For 15-year loans, the rate edged higher to 5.90% from 5.89% week to week.The refinance index moved down 3% on a weekly basis, with the pace of refinance applications at its lowest level since December, according to Kan.The seasonally adjusted purchase index rose 1% from a week earlier. Without adjustments, the index increased 1% sequentially, and was 7% lower than a year earlier, representing its first annual decline since January 2025, Kan said."Overall purchase activity has also been adversely impacted by current conditions," Kan said. "However, certain loan types and geographic segments are faring better than others because of lower rates on (adjustable-rate mortgage) and (Federal Housing Administration) loans, as well as growing housing inventory in some local markets."Fixed-rate mortgages with 30-year terms backed by the FHA fell to 6.22% from 6.25% the week before. The share of FHA loans, which are often used by first-time home buyers and can involve smaller down payments, inched lower to 19.3% of total applications from 19.5%, according to the MBA.Price: $41.84, Change: $+1.05, Percent Change: +2.57%

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