An asset manager based in Toronto agreed to acquire Annaly’s commercial business. The REIT will put an even greater emphasis on its investments in residential MBS.

Last March, major dealers simply didn’t have the liquidity to accommodate the volume of agency MBS being sold. Would a clearing facility speed up settlement enough to prevent a similar market failure in the future?

A 30-day average of SOFR would make a good replacement for LIBOR when pricing new MBS and ABS, according to a recommendation from a committee of industry participants convened by the Fed.

Securitizing mortgages can be expensive and recent PSPA changes might force the hand of smaller lenders, at least that’s how some trade groups see it. (Includes three data charts.)

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac drove a significant increase in mortgage securitization rates in 2020, while jumbo securitization was subdued and expanded credit was hobbled by pandemic upheaval. (Includes data chart.)

Top life insurance companies increased their ABS holdings substantially in 2020 and commercial MBS investment was up as well. But residential MBS portfolios declined. (Includes data chart.)

Overnight repo rates are exceptionally low and even dipped below zero, helping to reduce funding costs for investments in agency MBS.

If you want to be a player in Ginnie Mae early buyouts, you’ll need cash, lots of it. But is the window starting to close?

GOP staffers on the Senate Banking Committee said remarks Tuesday by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA, were a sign he was willing to compromise on an explicit government guarantee of agency MBS.

Trading desks had a busy month in February as rising rates caused participants to act. Where do we go from here? Good question.