Mortgage activity climbs in weekWASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association says U.S. mortgage activity rose in the week ended Friday with mortgage rates falling.

Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell from 4.23 percent to 4.17 percent with points falling from 1.04 to 0.97. Rates for 15-year, fixed-rate contracts fell from 3.41 percent to 3.4 percent with points increasing 0.94 to 1.17, the association said.

The banking group said its weekly mortgage activity index rose 6.3 percent while the refinancing index rose 6 percent.