According to a report today from Citigroup Global Markets, U.S. consumer ABS spreads remain unchanged over this "Hurricane-Sandy-shortened week."

However, the widespread damage from Hurricane Sandy might result in a modest and temporary rise in mortgage delinquencies, Fitch Ratings said in a report released last yesterday.

Ally Financial said Wednesday that it has repaid $2.9 billion of debt issued under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.

Opteum Mortgage Insurance Corp. filed an S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue RMBS.

Starting Thursday, residential servicers approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can say yes to short sales without the consent of the mortgage insurer on the loan.

Nationwide Property and Appraisal this week urged lenders to place orders online for natural disaster re-inspections in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Prices for nonperforming and impaired performing loans rose last month, DebtX reported. It added that the estimated price of whole loans backing the U.S. CMBS universe stayed at 88.7% in September from August.

Mortgage application activity was mixed in the week ending Oct. 26 with refinancings lower and purchases higher.

Iconix Brand Group plans to launch a new $1.1 billion securitized financing program, the company said today.

FHA lenders stuck to their bread and butter product, originating $124.5 billion of purchase money loans in fiscal year 2012 with nearly 78% going to first-time homebuyers.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) recommended that fixed-income markets be open tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 31, for the trading of U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income securities in the U.S., according to a statement published on the association’s Web site.

Downgraded European sovereigns saw ratings on their covered bonds lowered at levels ten times higher than those from more stable European sovereigns, according to a Moody's Investors Service special comment published today.