Average US rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 4.09 percent

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased to 4.09 percent from 4.04 percent a week earlier. The new level is the highest since last October.

The rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 3.25 percent from 3.20 percent. That matched its high for the year set last month.

Investors recently had been seeking safety in U.S. Treasury bonds amid economic tumult in China and Greece. Greece's agreement this week with its European partners on a rescue package has calmed investors and brought some retreat from Treasurys, pushing interest rates higher.

The Greek Parliament approved early Thursday a pension overhaul, tax increases and other measures demanded by bailout lenders.

Bond yields for Treasurys have been pushed higher by the decline in bond prices. The yield on the key 10-year Treasury note jumped to 2.36 percent Wednesday from 2.20 percent a week earlier. Mortgage rates often follow the yield on the 10-year note. It traded at 2.39 percent Thursday morning.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country at the beginning of each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was unchanged from last week at 0.6 point. The fee for a 15-year loan rose to 0.6 point from 0.5 point.

The average rate on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages increased to 2.96 percent from 2.93 percent; the fee rose to 0.5 point from 0.4 point. The average rate on one-year ARMs was unchanged at 2.50 percent; the fee remained at 0.3 point.