The unwind of Franco-Belgian banking group Dexia could result in over $100 billion of ABS and MBS sales, market analysts said.

Special servicers were instrumental in curbing U.S. CMBS losses this past year but the current economic uncertainty makes the outlook for 2012 less optimistic, according to Fitch Ratings in its latest annual U.S. CMBS loss study.

A sample of comments in response to the SEC's rating agency reform proposals suggests the market could find itself in a situation where the government must balance its interest in oversight and control with its plans to avoid more responsibilities and liabilities. It also may need to balance its aim to restrict conflicts of interest with another reform goal involving more sharing of information and transparency.

The Government National Mortgage Association is making it easier for MBS issuers to pledge their servicing rights to obtain financing from warehouse lenders.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a modest gain of 1.3% in mortgage application activity for the week ending October 7, with both purchase and refinancing activity higher.

Ford announced its tentative agreement on a four-year contract with the United Auto Workers Union (UAW), which is likely to maintain its operating flexibility, fixed cost position, breakeven point, and liquidity position near current levels, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Morningstar announced today that it will launch its residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) ratings and surveillance analytics service at the upcoming ABS East conference in Miami.

The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) sent a letter on Friday to the Securities Exchange Commission recommending that it take action to prohibit by regulation or recommend to Congress to prohibit by law the securitization of life settlements.

Since being seized by the government during the financial crisis, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac haven't been businesses so much as government-owned mortgage utilities. That status was supposed to be temporary, but three years later, lawmakers have shown little appetite for changing it.

Days after it was leaked to the public, banking regulators released the official version Tuesday of a proposal implementing severe restrictions on banks' trading activities.

LoanSifter, Inc has launched the LoanSifter Available Mortgage Rate IndexT (AMRI), the mortgage industry's first complete, real-time mortgage rate index and the only index that provides a realistic idea of what borrowers typically pay for a loan.

Jay Jacobs has joined ServiceLink as senior vice president of default abstract solutions.