The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percent as inflation begins the path to stabilization.

Earlier on Thursday, mortgage rates rose again for the sixth consecutive week, hitting a four-month high of 6.79%, according to Freddie Mac. The Fed's latest rate cut, which was universally expected and thus fully priced in to bond markets, is unlikely to bring relief to mortgage rates in the near term.

Following the Fed's 0.5% rate cut in September, mortgage rates went up, not down. Even though the central bank's policy decisions and economic outlook affect credit markets, the F

The average 30-year mortgage rate has been above 6% for two years — and is likely to stay above that level for the foreseeable future, experts say. A combination of better-than-