Mortgage rates hold steady, shrugging off weak jobs data and Fed rate cut

Mortgage Rates Overview - Mortgage rates remained stable, with the average 30-year mortgage rate at 6.21% and the 15-year rate at 5.47% [1][3] - The stability in mortgage rates has been observed since mid-September, contributing to increased buying and selling activity in the housing market [3] Labor Market Impact - The unemployment rate increased to 4.6%, the highest since 2021, but this did not significantly affect Treasury yields or mortgage rates [2] - The labor market slowdown was in line with expectations, indicating a lack of immediate impact on financial markets [2] Mortgage Application Trends - Mortgage applications for home purchases decreased by 3%, while refinancing applications fell by 4% [3] - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut has had minimal influence on mortgage rates, highlighting the indirect relationship between Fed policies and mortgage rates [3]