FHFA is working on an alternative to the single counterparty fee, triggered by a controversial provision in the new capital rule, that requires the GSEs to hold capital against one another as counterparties.

Industry groups argue that assessing fees on commingled collateral could undermine market confidence in the UMBS.

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization backed Ginnie’s updates to the digital collateral program.

Ginnie and FHFA are working together to set capital and liquidity requirements for nonbanks. Separately, Ginnie is working to allow for changes at the loan level and FHFA is considering reforms involving the Federal Home Loan Banks.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has asked the SEC to review the margin requirements in Rule 4210, arguing that lenders use to-be-announced securities to hedge their interest rate exposure rather than for speculation purposes.

Small lenders may be able to avoid some of the margin requirements by diversifying the pool of broker-dealers they use for hedging.

Higher prices on mortgages for highly qualified borrowers could mean more cross-subsidy for less qualified borrowers.

The reputation of being a safe, liquid asset adds about 47 basis points to the “convenience premium” of agency MBS over investment grade bonds, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Both the new capital rule and updated eligibility requirements for GSE seller/servicers could affect participants.

Nonbank boosters continue to fear Ginnie Mae’s final capital rule may not accurately reflect the intrinsic value of MSRs. Others fear it could be too soft.