The VA, FHA and even private MIs posted big gains in writing insurance for refinance loans in the fourth quarter while purchase-mortgage business saw a seasonal decline. (Includes four data tables.)

Earnings reports from 26 publicly traded banks show just over half reported gains in mortgage-banking income from 3Q to 4Q.

Hedging shifting values of mortgage servicing rights continued to be a major factor in bank mortgage-banking activity as production income remained strong despite a sag in volume. (Includes data table.)

Although overall non-agency CMBS issuance fell slightly in the fourth quarter, volume was up in deals backed by retail and lodging properties. Agency multifamily activity quickened in the second half of 2024 but still came up a little short of the previous year. (Includes two data tables.)

Most “involuntary loan purchases” by servicers of Fannie/Freddie single-family MBS are related to loss mitigation and loan delinquency rather than loan defects. (Includes data table.)

Among the top 15 MBS issuers for the month: Planet Home, CMG Mortgage and Onity.

Although interest rates were higher on loans backing agency MBS in January, there was a small, if uneven, increase in issuance from the previous month. (Includes two data tables.)

Refinance and reset activity accounted for 56% of the record $532 billion of CLO issued last year, including a number of deals restructured for the second or third time. (Includes two data tables.)

ABS issuance tied to business financing grew by 52.9% from 2023 to $105.33 billion.

Deals backed by leases and loans to consumers to buy cars and other vehicles continued to set the pace in ABS issuance last year. But the only sector to see increased volume in the fourth quarter was ABS backed by unsecured consumer loans. (Includes three data tables.)