New issuance of rated non-agency MBS was up strongly from the first to the second quarter and all five rating services upped new business. But new issuance of rated ABS was down slightly, and competition intensified. (Includes two data charts.)

While ESG factors have mattered since the 1990s, KBRA analyst Eric Thompson said questions such as whether an asset will be impacted by rising sea levels are gaining more prominence.

Fannie Mae is providing a monthly certification that its credit-risk sharing offerings comply with EU securitization requirements.

All five rating services saw hefty increases in their ABS business in the first quarter as total rated issuance rose 88%. But there were clear winners and losers in the non-agency MBS market.

With both Fannie and Freddie now issuing green single-family and multifamily MBS, the enterprises have become a favorite for investors seeking environmentally or socially responsible assets.

The ratings business was down in both non-agency MBS and ABS last year, and firms scrambled to maintain share in declining markets. (Includes two data charts.)

Issuance of rated non-agency MBS and ABS rose significantly during the third quarter, although both markets continued to lag behind 2019 on year-to-date volume. (Includes two data charts.)

The nation’s two largest MBS-investing REITs reported higher-than-expected earnings per share for the third quarter. Annaly even declared a quarterly common dividend of $0.22 per unit.

S&P, Moody’s and DBRS made the most of the surge in rated ABS issuance during the first quarter. Kroll and Moody’s managed to increase non-agency MBS ratings in a declining market. (Includes two data charts.)

Fitch Ratings expects the SOFR to become the most commonly used index post-LIBOR for new residential mortgage assets.