Fed Cut Rate another 1/2%

pstylesss

Platinum Member
Mar 21, 2007
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Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.
 

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
8,401
1
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It'll be interesting to see how this effects the rates on the net savings accounts. Its almost impossible to find a place other than long term CD's where you can put money and not have it loose value due to inflation or risking it in the stock market.
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
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My current 30-yr mortgage is at 6.375%... can someone in the banking biz please tell me what rate would be worth the trouble of a re-fi?

That's all I really care about.

Thanks.
 

Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
571
126
Originally posted by: palehorse
My current 30-yr mortgage is at 6.375%... can someone in the banking biz please tell me what rate would be worth the trouble of a re-fi?

That's all I really care about.

Thanks.

Same here.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
Originally posted by: palehorse
My current 30-yr mortgage is at 6.375%... can someone in the banking biz please tell me what rate would be worth the trouble of a re-fi?

That's all I really care about.

Thanks.

No. This does not affect long-term mortgage rates. Only equity lines tied to prime.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

When the Euro and the dollar reach 1:1 ratio, what will you say?
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
76
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: palehorse
My current 30-yr mortgage is at 6.375%... can someone in the banking biz please tell me what rate would be worth the trouble of a re-fi?

That's all I really care about.

Thanks.

No. This does not affect long-term mortgage rates. Only equity lines tied to prime.

right... and, as I understand it, mortgage rates are still hovering around 6.3% (national average).

Since this obviously doesn't effect mortgage rates at the consumer level, can you give me an example of what it does effect at the consumer level?

I'm an idiot when it comes to this stuff, so any help is much appreciated...

 

bbdub333

Senior member
Aug 21, 2007
684
0
0
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

The dollar has gained like 30% on the Euro in the last 3 months and you still think it's "going down the tube"?
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
602
126
Cutting seems to have done jack and shit so far. As usual, the market reacted by throwing a temper tantrum since the rate was only cut to 1% instead of -%5.
 
May 16, 2000
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It may have an effect at super high levels like investment markets and such, but rate cuts haven't affected anything for the common man. Mortgage rates are the same at 1% that they were when the rate was 4%, earning the same interest on savings, etc. It's all a big meh now.
 

redgtxdi

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2004
5,464
8
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I wonder if/when we'll see the effect on savings/money market accounts. (The last 2 years have been like a freakin' yo-yo for those high interest online savings accounts)


And why the eff can't the fed just leave their hand off the trigger for once?? Rates are already down in the dumps and this will have net ZERO effect on mortgages (which is about the only thing that matters now) and nobody seems to be able to stand off long enough to see if ANY of these effin' actions will do anything!!!!


Note to Bernanke...............LEAVE THE EFFIN' RATES ALONE, DUDE! YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYBODY BUT WALL STREET ANY FAVORS.........(and for their own good, it's not ULTIMATELY helping them either!!!!)
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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My 30 year is also 6.375. My HELOC is tied to prime, though, so this year I've seen its payments go down quite significantly. That is one way that the average Joe can be impacted by this rate cut.
 

pstylesss

Platinum Member
Mar 21, 2007
2,914
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Originally posted by: bbdub333
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

The dollar has gained like 30% on the Euro in the last 3 months and you still think it's "going down the tube"?

Our dollars worth, one of the factors, is the interest rate.
 

rchiu

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2002
3,846
0
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Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Originally posted by: bbdub333
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

The dollar has gained like 30% on the Euro in the last 3 months and you still think it's "going down the tube"?

Our dollars worth, one of the factors, is the interest rate.

And another one of the factor is how strong the economy behind the currency is and the willingness of the government to back up the economy. In this crisis mode, how safe the currency, or how strong the economy behind the currency outweigh interest rate any day.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

It's not as simple as "the (fed inter-bank) interest rate goes down = decline in value of the dollar".

If the government loans banks money at a cheaper rate, and in return they loan money to us at the (higher) regular rate, what is happening?


(Banks make higher profit; the gov is pumping them up)

Either way (even if they lower rates to retail consumers) I suspect it's purpose is to inject more money into the ecnoomy for the (major) purpose of increasing demand and forstalling/minimizing any recession. People back to work, more fed/state tax revenues etc.

Unless you absolutely must buy imported goods etc, there is little-to-no reason to be concerned about the dollars strenght vis-a-vis other foreign currency. In fact, declining dollars help our manufacturing/export businesses (which have been doing very well lately) and allow us to pay off national debt to foreign countries with *cheap dollars*.

Fern

 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
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Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: Fern
In fact, declining dollars help our manufacturing/export businesses (which have been doing very well lately) and allow us to pay off national debt to foreign countries with *cheap dollars*.


http://fora.tv/2008/10/09/Stev...at_the_Oxonian_Society
Skip to 10 minutes and pay attention. Especially starting at 13:35 and on.

Foreign currency valuation != domestic inflation.

When the dollar does devaluate relative to other currencies it does cause inflationary pressure vis-a-vis foreign goods; but does not necesarily translate into domestic inflation.

But to the extent foreign oil imports are valued in non- US currency we wil have inflationary pressures across the board for domestic products. However, the price of oil is falling so this isn't a concern now.

IMO, to restrict money supply now would be horrible, it will ensure a recession (or deepen it significantly) and likly cause deflation - stagflation.

I also think deflation would be the worst possible thing to occur now. During deflation, prices will fall, but so will wages and government revenues (lower prices, less profit and lower wages meaning less tax revenue). However, our mortgages are fixed in terms of principal, so deflation would likely cause additional forclosures; this is the last thing we need.

Defaltion will suppress stock market values (something our fed gov doesn't need considering the substantial investment in preferred stock in the finance sector), and just like with home mortgages makes national debt to foreign seem more expensive etc.

Cliffs: Deflation and recession very very bad; inflation is tolerable. Inflation is the enemy of bankers with fixed interest rate loans and those hoarding cash.

Fern
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
9,922
0
76
Originally posted by: Naustica
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

When the Euro and the dollar reach 1:1 ratio, what will you say?

When? You mean If.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Originally posted by: Eeezee
Originally posted by: Naustica
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

When the Euro and the dollar reach 1:1 ratio, what will you say?

When? You mean If.

No, I mean when. You obviously don't remember when the Euro used to be the butt of the jokes like the dollar was the past couple years. Before this worldwide financial bubble the dollar was worth more than the Euro. I remember when one dollar was worth about 1.15 Euro even late as 2002. Dollar can definitely reach parity with the Euro again and more likely will.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,501
9,986
136
Originally posted by: miketheidiot
what a stupid move, now they are just pandering to wallstreet

Huh? Everybody knew this was going to happen today.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,501
9,986
136
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Cutting seems to have done jack and shit so far. As usual, the market reacted by throwing a temper tantrum since the rate was only cut to 1% instead of -%5.

Yesterday's ~9% runup of the DOW was in anticipation of today's cut, also reaction on the heals of worldwide soaring markets. Today's action is probably another confirmation of the maxim, buy on the rumor, sell on the news.

Edit: Looking, today's action was actually quite tame. Dow a little down, NAS a little up. All in all, nada.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Originally posted by: Eeezee
Originally posted by: Naustica
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Text

Give me a break.... I don't have much to say other than our dollars is value going down the tube. Of course, so is everybody elses so maybe it's not so bad.

When the Euro and the dollar reach 1:1 ratio, what will you say?

When? You mean If.

No, it'll be when.

It was probably sometime just around 5 years ago when I went there and the Euro only cost about .85 (i.e., less than 1:1)

Fern
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: Skoorb
My 30 year is also 6.375. My HELOC is tied to prime, though, so this year I've seen its payments go down quite significantly. That is one way that the average Joe can be impacted by this rate cut.

Right and I think this is a good reason why the fed is doing it - it's not only helping folks with HELOCs but folks whose adjustable first mortgages have reset.