USD: Mortgage Applications Rise 0.3% as Rates Fall to 6.37%

US mortgage applications increased 0.3% for the week ending October 17, recovering from the previous week's 1.8% decline, as the average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 6.37% from 6.42%. The MBA's market index rose slightly to 316.2 from 317.2, though the purchase index dropped notably to 157.3 from 166.0, indicating weaker homebuying activity. The refinance index surged to 1214.7 from 1168.0, suggesting borrowers are taking advantage of the modest rate decline. While mortgage data typically has minimal immediate impact on forex markets, the inverse correlation between rates and applications remains intact. The data reflects ongoing housing market dynamics amid the Federal Reserve's restrictive monetary policy stance, which continues to support USD strength across major pairs.