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Inside MBS & ABS

June 16, 2017

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Ginnie Moves Past Freddie in Outstanding 1-4 Family MBS in Early 2017, Many Investor Classes Up Holdings

Ginnie Mae hit a milestone in the MBS market during the first quarter of 2017, edging past Freddie Mac to become the second-largest supplier of single-family MBS in the world. A new Inside MBS & ABS analysis reveals $1.705 trillion of Ginnie 1-4 family MBS outstanding at the end of March, a 2.2 percent increase in just three months. Meanwhile, outstanding single-family Freddie MBS rose 0.7 percent to $1.703 trillion. Both Ginnie and Freddie accounted...[Includes two data tables] Read More

Fed Raises Rates, Announces Plan to Cap Reinvestment Of Cash Spewing From Its Massive MBS Holdings

This week, the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee provided a bit more information on the process it plans to follow in shrinking the size of its massive balance sheet, once it decides the time is right to finally begin. “Provided that the economy evolves broadly as the committee anticipates, we currently expect to begin implementing a balance sheet normalization program this year,” Fed Chair Janet Yellen said in her post-meeting press conference. The hope is to initiate an incremental and largely predictable decline in the U.S. central bank’s securities holdings. The FOMC intends... Read More

Treasury Seeks Significant Regulatory Changes to Spur Non-Agency MBS Market, Boost ABS Issuance

The Trump administration wants to pare back regulations that inhibit the non-agency MBS and ABS market and tilt current securitization economics that favor the government-sponsored enterprises over private issuers. “In order to revitalize a responsible [private-label securities] market, it is important to improve incentives for issuers through reasonable reductions in costs and regulatory burdens,” the Treasury Department said in a new report released this week. In particular, it aimed at adjusting relative economics for the government-sponsored enterprises and FHA/VA mortgage programs. On the regulatory side, Treasury recommends... Read More

Fannie Mae General Counsel Rumored for a Top Post At Treasury. What Does That Mean for GSE Reform?

Fannie Mae General Counsel Brian Brooks is rumored to be up for a top post at the Treasury Department, a development that if consummated would add yet another seasoned industry veteran familiar with the government-sponsored enterprises to the agency. What that might mean for “administrative” reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is another question. As Inside MBS & ABS went to press this week, Brooks – who joined Fannie from OneWest Bank in November 2014 – had not been... Read More

MBS Trading Volume Hits a New Low for the Year; Meanwhile the Fed Hikes Rates and Prepares to Trim Its Portfolio

The average daily trading volume in agency MBS fell to $185.1 billion in May, the lowest reading of the past 17 months, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Year-to-date, the average is still ahead of last year’s pace but not by much: $204.2 billion compared to $201.9 billion for 2016. But these are interesting times for investors as both bonds and stocks continue to rally near new highs. Earlier this week, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury fell to 2.12 percent, the lowest reading since the November election. It’s... Read More

FHFA to Seek Authority from Congress to Examine Nonbank Servicers, Other Service Providers to GSEs

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is backing recommendations for additional authority that would allow it to examine third parties that do business with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In its 2016 Annual Report to Congress released this week, the FHFA said it concurs with recommendations made by both the Government Accountability Office and the Financial Stability Oversight Council that Congress grant the agency authority to oversee the entities that provide critical services to the government-sponsored enterprises. While counterparty oversight is critical to the safety and soundness of the GSEs, it is... Read More

U.S. Appeals Court Rejects Claims that Would Have Extended ECOA Liability to Loan Purchasers

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rebuffed arguments that would have subjected mortgage lenders and other secondary-market participants to increased liability under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. In a published opinion that appeared in the Banking Law Journal, the Fifth Circuit court rejected plaintiffs’ argument that mortgage investors that promulgate discriminatory lending guidelines could be held liable as the original creditor. ECOA prohibits... Read More

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