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.
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.
In efforts to move from LIBOR to SOFR, the GSEs informed market participants to expect new language on all single-family uniform adjustable-rate mortgage instruments that close on or after June 1.
December was a slow month for MBS trades but 2019, on average, was quite good. Meanwhile, just when you thought rates might start rising, a monkey wrench or two gets thrown into the works.
Trade groups are wary that any capital rule issued after May could be over-turned if Democrats win the White House and control of Congress in the next election.
GSE recap-and-release work will generate millions of dollars in fees for the lucky advisory firms. In a few weeks, the FHFA is expected to announce its counsel.
Thirteen major financial institutions have agreed to pay a combined $337 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit accusing their trading desks of engaging in a price-fixing scheme for Fannie and Freddie debt.
The key factor for TBA investors is prepayment speeds. A quick scan of the FHFA data show that the conditional prepayment rates for UMBS issued by Fannie and those issued by Freddie have remained comparable since the launch of the single security in June.