EXISTING HOME SALES

The increases in refinancing and purchasing mortgage options is a good sign that the Fed's interest rate hikes are working, but some warn that will not last.

Home sales for new single-family houses hit 744,000 in November as housing demand remains high. 

Home sales have accelerated due to low mortgage rates and a migration out of large cities

US stocks rose on Wednesday although the U.S. ordered the closure of China’s consulate in Houston

U.S. stocks dropped on Tuesday as the price of oil remained below $10

Three key U.S. housing reports Wednesday are expected to show small improvements in the market.

The continued weakness of the global economy will probably leave the two regional manufacturing PMI (Empire State and Philly Fed) and the national Markit PMI at low levels in September. Meanwhile, economists expect August?s data on housing starts and existing home sales to show that the housing recovery remains intact.

The minutes of the July 31-Aug. 1 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, to be released on Wednesday, will dominate markets in a week light on data.

Investors can monitor five stats to obtain a reading on the U.S. economy’s strength. Currently, these stats show a slowdown in U.S. GDP growth, which is why Congress should do more to create jobs and help increase the economy’s growth rate.

Asian stock markets mostly lowered Friday as weak economic data from the U.S. and concerns over the euro zone debt crisis weighed on the sentiment.

U.S. existing home sales unexpectedly fell in June, according to the National Association of Realtors, raising fresh doubts about the housing recovery. Here are five important trends taken from the numbers.

Although the U.S. home construction industry continues to lag behind the broader job market, improvements in housing are expected to create jobs and boost construction this year, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said in a new report, Housing: Getting Back To Work.

U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to a record low of 3.62 percent, its 10th such weekly record low in the last 11 weeks, following weak economic data, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said Thursday.

U.S. pending home sales rose 5.9 percent in May, matching a two-year high, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

Although U.S. home prices inched up in April and new home sales rose to a two-year high in May, the national housing market remains uneven and weak, said a New York-based developer.

Crude oil prices slightly advanced in Asian trading Friday, after plunging to their lowest level in eight months in the previous session.

Most Asian markets fell Friday due to investor concerns following indications of a faltering U.S. economy and the downgrading of global banks by Moody's Investor Service.

U.S. sales of existing homes fell 1.5 percent to an annual rate of 4.55 million units due to low inventory, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday, missing expectations and raising doubts about a housing recovery.

U.S. stock index futures point to a lower opening Thursday after the Department of Labor's initial jobless claims report, which showed that more people than expected filed for unemployment benefits, and the National Association of Realtors' report on existing home sales.

U.S. homebuilder stocks rose Monday after a report indicated that more builders viewed the housing market favorably in June, with confidence hitting the highest level since May 2007.

This week's data releases highlight Wednesday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement, which will likely present a dovish tone. However, those who are expecting for the announcement of renewed asset purchases will likely be disappointed.