Middle East Ceasefire Cuts Monthly Mortgage Payments by $120

A borrower with a $400,000 loan saves $120 a month on a current 30-year fixed mortgage. This decline follows five straight increases that had pushed rates to their highest level in nearly seven months. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.37% from 6.46%, according to Freddie Mac. These shifts were driven by an easing in bond yields. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield dropped to 4.23% from 4.3% a week ago. Bond yields eased after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices plunged 18% to $92 a barrel on the news, while Brent crude oil prices fell from a late March peak of $115.85 a barrel to around $90 a barrel.