It would be surprising if the Federal Reserve were to use its quantitative tools to artificially depress long-term rates to try to jump-start housing, Mizuho economists said. ...

Federal Reserve tools could ease mortgage rates, but they also could risk another boom-and-bust cycle, says Mizuho. - Getty Images Investors shouldn’t get too bullish about the idea of the Federal Reserve dusting off its tools to artificially lower U.S. mortgage rates and lift the weak housing market. That’s the thinking of Steven Ricchiuto and Alex Pelle, U.S. economists at Mizuho Securities, who said in a Tuesday client note that they were sympathetic to the American dream of owning a home, but also wa ...