NEW YORK, Jan 10, 2026, 18:43 ET — Market closed.
- Rocket Companies jumped 9.6% Friday, lifted by a surge in housing stocks after the U.S. unveiled a fresh mortgage-bond buying program
- The Trump administration directed $200 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities purchases linked to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Traders are focused on mortgage rates, the next steps in policy, and Tuesday’s U.S. inflation report
Shares of Rocket Companies, Inc soared 9.6% on Friday, closing at $23.29 after hitting an intraday high of $23.41. Investors rushed into mortgage lenders following new signs that Washington aims to push home-loan rates down.
This matters because Rocket’s main operation—originating home loans via Rocket Mortgage—often shifts with interest rates. When borrowing costs drop, refinancing and buying activity generally rise, sparking competition among lenders for volume.
The sensitivity has resurfaced amid renewed pressure from policymakers on housing affordability. Although mortgage rates have dropped from their peaks last year, they remain far above the pandemic-era lows, leaving many borrowers hesitant to jump in.
Rocket’s shares jumped after a surge in U.S. mortgage lenders and housing-related stocks, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of $200 billion in mortgage-bond buys to lower housing costs. “Every little bit will help push mortgage yields lower,” noted Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management, though he cautioned this move might also boost demand. (Reuters)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters the plan is to keep pace with the Federal Reserve’s runoff of mortgage-backed securities, which runs around $15 billion a month, instead of flooding the market all at once. FHFA Director William Pulte confirmed an initial $3 billion tranche has kicked off. Mortgage-backed securities are bonds secured by pools of home loans. (Reuters)
Jefferies analysts said mortgage rates might have to drop to the mid- to high-5% range from roughly 6.2% before affordability improves enough to lure buyers back—a threshold the market hasn’t reached so far.
Policy headlines boosted Rocket’s publicly traded rivals like loanDepot and UWM Holdings, with gains extending to homebuilders and credit bureaus connected to lending.
That said, a headline order doesn’t automatically translate to a lasting drop in mortgage rates. Bessent noted the purchases probably won’t drive rates down directly. Instead, investors could soon shift their attention back to spreads, supply levels, and whether demand picks up again amid tight inventories.
The plan also raised doubts about the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, still under government control. TD Cowen’s Jaret Seiberg noted that Trump’s wording “does not sound like a President who is in a rush to IPO the enterprises,” complicating bets on a straightforward privatization. (Reuters)
Traders in Rocket stock will be keeping an eye on whether Friday’s price stays above the session low around $22, with the recent peak at about $23.41 serving as the next key level.
Next on the docket: inflation data that could shake things up. The U.S. Consumer Price Index for December 2025 drops Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 8:30 a.m. ET. This report often shifts rate expectations and could rattle mortgage stocks like Rocket. (Bls)
