Bank holding companies reported a 13% increase in the volume of MBS and ABS held in their trading accounts during the second quarter. Most of the increase was in agency single-family MBS. (Includes two data tables.)

All the top bank ABS investors reported reductions in their portfolios during the second quarter.

Most of the top bank ABS investors reported declines in their holdings during the second quarter. Radius Bank and Capital One bucked the trend by growing their portfolios. (Includes two data tables.)

Although bank holding companies keep most of their CLO investments in held-to-maturity accounts, the value of CLO classified as available-for-sale was up slightly in the second quarter. (Includes data table.)

Purchase-money mortgages accounted for 82.5% of agency MBS issuance during August, though the refinance share is growing.

Income from mortgage production increased in the second quarter as servicing income declined.

REITs increased their holdings of agency MBS during the second quarter while reducing investments in non-agency MBS and credit-risk transfer securities.

Improving efficiency played a big role in boosting mortgage-banking profits in the second quarter as gain-on-sale margins narrowed while servicing took a hit on net MSR valuation. (Includes data table.)

Cash-out transactions still account for most agency refinance activity, but August brought a surge of rate-term refis into agency MBS, with the biggest increase in the Ginnie Mae market. (Includes two data tables.)

AGNC Investment gained some ground on REIT-leader Annaly Capital Management in the agency MBS sector. Industry holdings of non-agency MBS and whole loans fell in the second quarter. (Includes two data tables.)