NYCB scales back with sale of Flagstar’s mortgage operations; Cornerstone Bank makes leadership hires; MISMO working group on AVMs; AI updates.

Vehicle-financing securitizations continued to dominate ABS issuance in the second quarter, although volume fell 9% from the first three months of the year. Business ABS issuance almost made up the difference. (Includes three data tables.)

Two large REIT investors in agency MBS incurred losses in the second quarter, due to interest rate volatility and an unaccommodating monetary policy stance. Still, they are optimistic about the future.

The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 calls for the end of the GSE conservatorships and a dramatically reduced role for the Fed.

Non-QM REIT Angel Oak is out with its first “baby” bond offering — $50 million worth of five-year notes.

The decrease in the value of used vehicles poses a particular risk for ABS investors, rating services warn.

Growth in the AI and cloud computing space could push some share of data-center financing outside of MBS and ABS.

KBRA has downgraded six tranches from LendingPoint ABS issued between 2021 and 2022.

Rithm will restate financials going back to 2021; commercial lending executives expect MBS issuance to remain strong; new wildfire risk mitigation recovery bond.

With Kamala Harris now the frontrunner to replace Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, industry experts ponder how closely her housing strategy might mirror that of the current administration.