New York, January 13, 2026, 06:57 ET — Premarket
- Mortgage rates stayed near 6%, ahead of inflation data set for release Tuesday.
- Rocket Companies shares slipped in early trading, while major homebuilders edged higher.
- Traders focused on the next move in Treasury yields, a key factor in mortgage pricing.
Mortgage rates in the U.S. hovered around 6.2% on Tuesday. Rocket Companies (RKT) shares dipped 0.5% in premarket trading ahead of inflation figures. According to Bankrate, the national average for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.20%, or 6.26% APR including fees. UWM Holdings (UWMC) edged down 0.2%, while homebuilders D.R. Horton (DHI) and Lennar (LEN) climbed roughly 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
That mix is crucial since housing demand remains sensitive to payment changes. Even a slight shift in market rates can alter buyers’ qualifying power and impact refinance volumes that fuel mortgage lenders’ pipelines.
Later today, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — a key inflation measure — is set for release. Economists surveyed by Reuters predict both headline and core CPI, which excludes food and energy, will climb 0.3% in December. The year-over-year rate is seen at 2.7%. Oscar Munoz, TD Securities’ chief U.S. macro strategist, noted the report should reflect a “meaningful payback after collection issues,” referencing the 43-day government shutdown that disrupted price data gathering. Reuters
The Trump administration is aiming to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS), which are bonds tied to pools of home loans issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters, “What is happening is the Fed has about $15 billion of roll-off every month,” explaining that this move is meant to counteract the Federal Reserve’s balance-sheet reduction and tighten the yield gap against Treasuries. FHFA Director William Pulte noted the program kicked off with an initial $3 billion purchase round. Reuters
Mortgage News Daily’s index reported the 30-year fixed rate at 6.01% on Monday, slipping five basis points from the previous figure. Freddie Mac’s latest weekly survey had it at 6.16%.
Not all borrowers get the same rate, and published averages vary since surveys tap different lenders over varying time frames. Traders, however, take the direction as an early signal of demand: refis usually react first, followed by home sales—if the trend holds.
The housing trade can shift quickly. A stronger-than-expected CPI reading might send Treasury and MBS yields higher, driving mortgage rates up and hitting rate-sensitive stocks hard.
U.S. stock index futures edged down as investors braced for major bank earnings and fresh inflation figures. By 5:09 a.m. ET, S&P 500 E-minis had slipped 0.14%, while Nasdaq 100 E-minis dropped 0.24%, according to Reuters.
JPMorgan reports before the opening bell, kicking off a week packed with bank earnings. Meanwhile, mortgage originators and homebuilders have been moving sharply, reflecting bets on whether borrowing costs will hold steady.
The trigger this week is Tuesday’s CPI report at 8:30 a.m. ET, coupled with real earnings data. Producer prices follow on Wednesday.
