RMBS

Investment bank EA Markets is muscling up their structured finance team by bringing on three new hires: Neil Winward, Greg Raykher, and Gerry Kaufman.

The U.S. housing recovery will vary by price range, location and seasonal adjustments to distressed property sales. These same factors also define how MBS deals are impacted, according to an Oct.9, Amherst Securities report.

Federal regulators are targeting another financial firm in connection with its mortgage activities before the housing crisis.

Two Democratic senators are urging federal regulators to reconsider a proposal that would require certain MBS issuers to maintain a reserve account during the life of a private mortgage securitization.

Both upper and lower coupons had their days in the sun this week. Over Monday and Tuesday it was lower coupons that outperformed; over Wednesday and Thursday it was up in coupon that led, and on Friday into mid-day the entire stack was doing well.

Foreign covered bonds that target U.S. investors are increasingly coming to market. The latest deal from NordLB will access U.S. investors via the 144A market but issuers have recently explored other options.

Portuguese household incomes would feel the strain of a proposed hike in income tax, which would in turn have a knock-on effect on arrears and default levels in the RMBS transactions, according to an Oct. 5, Fitch Ratings report .

Prepayment speeds slowed less than expected in September . For example, 30-year FNMAs and GNMAs were projected to decline 11-12% with a four day lower day count a major factor; however, speeds slowed just 9% on FNMAs and 6% on GNMAs.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is seeking public input on its white paper regarding a proposed framework for a common securitization platform and a model Pooling and Servicing Agreement.

Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell four basis points to a new record low of 3.36% with an average 0.6 point in the week ending October 4.