A market-wide slump in MBS fair market values accounted for most of the decline in reported bank holdings of these securities during the third quarter. And there was a significant increase in MBS held in bank trading accounts. (Includes two data charts.)

Originations of purchase mortgages with primary MI coverage declined in the third quarter, but the FHA stood alone with a sturdy 7% increase in purchase endorsements. National MI was the only private insurer to boost quarterly production. (Includes three data charts.)

Lenders cut back on jumbo originations in the third quarter, and they kept most of what they produced. The result: a 73% nosedive in prime RMBS issuance from the second quarter. (Includes three data charts.)

The falloff in refinance issuance is easing, but perhaps only because it's nearing rock bottom. (Includes two data charts.)

Securitization of office-property mortgages fell to its lowest level in 10 years, while retail and lodging also saw big declines in the third quarter. Agency multifamily MBS issuance held up better, paced by a modest gain in Freddie production. (Includes two data charts.)

Despite significant erosion in conventional-conforming and jumbo lending in the third quarter, a few shops managed to boost originations. FHA/VA lending was relatively safer. (Includes two data charts.)

Sales of refinance loans plummeted to the lowest level in at least eight years. But purchase-mortgage sales had a bad month too. (Includes two data charts.)

Publicly held banks reported a 20% decline in mortgage banking income from the second to the third quarter as more firms shift away from the originate-to-sell model. Servicing generally helped offset faltering profits on production and secondary marketing. (Includes data chart.)

Now that the purchase-mortgage market is getting squishy, agency MBS issuance may sink to its lowest level in years. New pricing from the GSEs may be offset by a potential cut in FHA premiums. (Includes two data charts.)

As a group, nonbank servicers are growing faster than depositories. But some of the biggest gains in the third quarter were by banks, and a number of nonbanks shrank their portfolios. (Includes three data charts.)