The MBA mortgage applications index is 9.7 percent higher in the March 1 week. It is 10.4 percent lower than four weeks ago and 6.6 percent lower than a year earlier. The purchase index is 10.6 percent higher in the current week and 8.1 percent lower than four weeks ago and 8.6 percent lower than a year earlier. The refinancing index is 8.1 percent higher and is 14.4 percent lower than four weeks ago and 2.2 percent lower than a year earlier. In the March 1 week, refinancing accounted for 30.2 percent of mortgage applications compared to 31.2 percent in the prior week.

MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said,"The latest data on inflation was not markedly better nor worse than expected, which was enough to bring mortgage rates down a bit, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate declining slightly last week to 7.02 percent." He continued,"Mortgage applications were up considerably relative to the prior week, which included the President's Day holiday. Of note, purchase volume particularly for FHA loans was up strongly, again showing how sensitive the first-time homebuyer segment is to relatively small changes in the direction of rates. Other sources of housing data are showing increases in new listings, which is a real positive for the spring buying season given the lack of for-sale inventory."

The fixed-rate mortgage index is 9.5 percent higher in the March 1 week. It is 11.6 percent lower than four weeks ago and 5.7 percent lower than this week last year. The adjustable-rate mortgage index is 12.5 percent higher and is 7.8 percent higher than four weeks ago and 16.0 percent lower than a year ago.

The contract rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.02 percent in the current week. This is 2 basis points lower than the prior week, 22 basis points higher than four weeks ago, and 23 basis points higher than a year earlier. The contract rate for a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage is 6.38 percent in the week. This is 5 basis points higher than the prior week, 24 basis points higher than four weeks ago, and 63 basis points higher than a year earlier. In the March 1 week, adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for 7.7 percent of mortgage applications compared to 7.5 percent in the prior week.

The Mortgage Bankers' Association compiles various mortgage loan indexes. The purchase applications index measures applications at mortgage lenders. This is a leading indicator for single-family home sales and housing construction.

This provides a gauge of not only the demand for housing, but economic momentum. People have to be feeling pretty comfortable and confident in their own financial position to buy a house. Furthermore, this narrow piece of data has a powerful multiplier effect through the economy, and therefore across the markets and your investments. By tracking economic data such as the Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications, investors can gain specific investment ideas as well as broad guidance for managing a portfolio.

Each time the construction of a new home begins, it translates to more construction jobs, and income which will be pumped back into the economy. Once a home is sold, it generates revenues for the home builder and the realtor. It brings a myriad of consumption opportunities for the buyer. Refrigerators, washers, dryers and furniture are just a few items new home buyers might purchase. The economic"ripple effect" can be substantial especially when you think a hundred thousand new households around the country are doing this every month.

Since the economic backdrop is the most pervasive influence on financial markets, housing construction has a direct bearing on stocks, bonds and commodities. In a more specific sense, trends in the MBA purchase applications index carry valuable clues for the stocks of home builders, mortgage lenders and home furnishings companies.