The average daily trading volume in agency MBS spiked northward in January, increasing 18.3% on a sequential basis, according to figures compiled by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

The overall mortgage securitization rate fell slightly in 2018, with 70.0% of home loans originated in the primary market ending up in MBS pools, according to an Inside MBS & ABS analysis. [Includes one data chart.]

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac racked up $25.19 billion in combined net income in 2018, their most profitable year since 2013, when earnings were inflated by accounting rules for deferred tax assets. [Includes one data chart.]

New production of single-family MBS started the new year on a downbeat, with combined issuance by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae slipping to $80.72 billion in January, ac-cording to a new Inside MBS & ABS ranking and analysis. [Includes two data charts.]

An estimated $9.6 billion of Ginnie Mae securities backed by FHA-insured reverse mortgages were issued in 2018, down from $10.5 billion a year ago, according to New View Advisors.

New mortgage- and asset-backed securitiza-tion production totaled $1.504 trillion in 2018, the lowest annual output in five years, an exclusive new analysis by Inside MBS & ABS reveals. [Includes three data charts.]

After having initially been brushed off as unnecessary, a pilot program that allowed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to help finance single-family rental activity is now being hailed a success.

Seasonal factors slowed production of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MBS during the fourth quarter, although the refi sector showed some resilience in cash-out transactions. [Includes three data charts.]

Residential mortgage securitization rates edged higher in the third quarter of 2018 but remained below the peak levels set in the aftermath of the financial crisis. [Includes one data chart.]

With many consumers shopping at brick-and-mortar stores this holiday season, mortgages on department stores and shopping malls that are included in commercial MBS will likely see good performance in the end of 2018, said DBRS. [Includes one data chart.]