NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage applications rose last week, reflecting an increase in loan refinancing, as interest rates surged to a three-month high, an industry trade group said on Wednesday.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity for the week ended March 3 increased 0.7 percent to 575.6 from the previous week's 571.5.

The MBA's survey covers about 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage originations. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.

注释：

1、mortgage：按揭、抵押
2、refinancing：再贷款、再融资
3、interest rate：利率
4、The Mortgage Bankers Association：美国抵押贷款银行协会
5、seasonally：adv. 季节地、季节性地、周期性地
6、residential mortgage：住宅抵押
7、commercial banks：商业银行
8、thrift：储蓄贷款机构