Applications for home mortgages increased last week as purchasing and refinancing activity climbed despite a rise in mortgage rates, an industry group said Wednesday.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity increased 9.6 percent to 853.4 in the week ended July 1, more than erasing the previous week’s 1.1 percent loss.

The MBA’s seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications climbed 10.2 percent to 2788.2 after falling 1.8 percent the prior week.

The MBA’s purchase index, a gauge of loan requests for home purchases, rose 9.1 percent to 520.8 after dropping 0.4 percent the previous week.

Fixed 30-year mortgage rates averaged 5.58 percent last week, excluding fees, up 11 basis points from 5.47 percent the previous week.

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