Rates Hold Steady After Falling Week Before

Amid uncertainty regarding another stimulus from the Fed, mortgage rates generally declined over the week last week. In his recent speech, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke ""left the door wide open"" for further stimulus, according to ""Bankrate.com"":http://www.bankrate.com/.

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""Freddie Mac"":http://www.freddiemac.com/ Chief Economist Frank Nothaft reports mortgage rates ""were little changed"" overall last week.

According to the GSE, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.55 percent (0.7 point), demonstrating a decline from both the previous week and last year.

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The rate the GSE reported the previous week was 3.59 percent, while the rate reported the same week last year was 4.12 percent.

At the same time, Bankrate reported the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.79 percent (0.4 point), down just slightly from last week's 3.80 percent.

Bankrate reported a rise in the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage (ARM), while Freddie Mac reported the rate as unchanged from the previous week at 2.86 percent (0.6 point). According to Bankrate, the rate rose from 3.03 to 3.04 over the week.

Both sources reported a decline in the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable rate mortgage. Freddie Mac indicates a fall from 2.78 percent to 2.75 percent (0.7 point). Bankrate indicated a drop from 2.80 percent to 2.76 percent.

Freddie Mac also reports on the 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM, which dropped from 2.63 percent to 2.61 percent (0.4 point) over the week. Bankrate does not report these rates.

Nothaft also mentioned positive movement in consumer spending and consumer confidence, but ""the manufacturing industry contracted for the third straight month,"" he said.

While Bankrate suggests another stimulus might be imminent, ""it would take a weak jobs report to truly seal the deal,"" it said in its release Thursday.