The biggest gain in bank MBS investment over the past year was in agency pass-throughs, up 11.4% from December 2018, although holdings of non-agency securities also climbed 7.4%. (Includes two data charts.)

A noticeable increase in warehouse credit to non-QM originators is bolstering both lending volumes and MBS creation. Another positive: better terms for nonbank borrowers.

Two prominent GSE multifamily lenders cut production in the fourth quarter as they adjusted to the new investment limits set for Fannie and Freddie. The new caps are unlikely to constrain GSE business in 2020.

MBS trading turned in a stellar performance in January but market watchers are nervous about stock valuations and interest rates.

The Federal Reserve’s 2020 stress tests will examine certain large banks’ ability to weather severe shocks in the leveraged lending market.

Thousands of rural multifamily property rehabilitation loans are stuck in the pipeline due an abrupt change in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s subordination policy.

JPMorgan Chase has issued its first ABS transaction backed by credit card receivables through Chase Issuance Trust since May 2018. A wildcard to the deal, however, is a pending lawsuit involving the issuance trust.

Many analysts anticipated the implementation of CECL would balloon the loan loss reserves of the GSEs. Last week, though, both enterprises downplayed CECL’s potential impact on first-quarter earnings.

Merge Fannie and Freddie, says Mayor (Candidate) Bloomberg; Also: Amherst wants to buy Front Yard REIT.

Presale reports for 12 non-agency MBS backed by new originations have been published this month, led by seven expanded-credit products.