The REIT has built up strong residential and MSR businesses to diversify risk and support its agency prowess. And while it’s held back on increasing leverage, once volatility declines, all that may change.
Weak MBS trading activity usually isn’t a good sign. To some it portends a lack of liquidity, to others cloudiness in a market that has lost its way. Regardless, daily MBS trades in May were not pretty.
When it comes to borrowing money in the secondary market these days, mortgage servicing rights are a great form of collateral. Reason? Rates are high and the asset will stick around for a long time.
The Structured Finance Association had asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to hold off on new environmental, social and governance naming and disclosure requirements for asset-backed securities while SFA works on its ESG best practices.
Portfolio holdings of agency MBS fell mostly due to lower market value for the assets. REITs also recorded a significant drop in TBA investments as agency MBS issuance declined. (Includes data chart.)