New issuance of real estate mortgage investment conduits backed by agency MBS rose 6.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first three months of this year, about half the rate of increase in underlying MBS production, according to an Inside MBS & ABS ranking. Fannie Mae got the early lead with $33.5 billion in new REMIC production, a gain of 8.4 percent from the fourth quarter. Freddie Mac ranked second, but its REMIC volume was down 1.5 percent from the previous period and off 50.7 percent from year-ago levels. Ginnie Mae posted a significant 18.1 percent...(Includes one data chart)