RMBS

BlackRock has launched its global real estate securities capability, which is an investment platform born from BlackRock's experience in the real estate investment business.

European issuers of covered bonds have sought to diversify their investor bases in recent years as European investors approach their limits in those securities, and new regulations such as Solvency II and Basel III favor issuance of covered bonds over ABS.

Treasury Department officials are working with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on ways to structure Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MBS, allowing private investors to share in some of the credit risk on government-guaranteed securities.

Capacity constraints in the mortgage banking industry have been holding down prepayment speeds despite the pickup in HARP refinancings in the first quarter, according to analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

It was a record breaking week in terms of the 10-year note yield, lower coupon MBS prices and mortgage rates.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) "underestimated" the risk of poor foreclosure practices at national banks and did not devote enough examination resources to identify those problems, according to the agency's chief watchdog.

Although mortgage underwriting standards were much too loose during the “go-go” years of 2004 to 2007, the pendulum on credit standards has swung too far the other way, according to a new report from Amherst Securities Group.

Is Ginnie Mae actually making progress in clearing its backlog of issuer applications? Answer: It all depends on who you ask.

Standard & Poor's has updated its criteria for assessing counterparty risk in covered bond programs, which could affect up to 50% of outstanding ratings on covered bonds.