First Europe, now the U.S.

Ocwen Financial continues to have a ravenous appetite for mortgage servicing rights (MSR), having closed on $42.2 billion of product in the second quarter while lining up a $2.4 billion deal that will close in September.

Former CMBS strategist for UBS Securities filed complaints with different courts, claiming that UBS and its parent corporation, UBS AG, fired him unjustly.

Streamline refinancing applications have more than doubled since the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) opened a special program on June 11 for existing FHA borrowers who had not refinanced since May 2009.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray defended his agency Wednesday against critics who argue that its proposed new mortgage disclosure rule is too long and cumbersome.

For the first time in six weeks, mortgage rates increased as Treasurys sold off as risk on heated up after remarks last week from European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi about "doing whatever it takes" to save the euro. He talked a good talk, but markets are still left waiting for action after today's ECB statement and risk off is in full swing again. Next up: employment.

Morgan Stanley plans to sell a single-asset deal called Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 2012-STAR worth $340 million.

Barclays Capital believes that at least one of Freddie Mac’s proposed changes to its HARP 2.0 program will potentially increase prepayments for pre-HARP loans.

Standard & Poor’s stated that cigarette consumption is the most significant factor in determining the credit strength of tobacco securitizations.

Fitch Ratings said in a report today that it is looking to extend its CMBS rating methodology to address the particular attributes of single loans made by insurance companies and other institutional investors.

The loan limit on VA-guaranteed loans is slated to move up to $729,750 again, staying there for two years now that House of Representatives has passed a Veterans benefits bill.