RMBS

A federal judge has ordered the former CEO of Brookstreet Securities Corp. to pay a maximum $10 million penalty in a securities fraud case related to the financial crisis.

Recent revisions made to the Home Affordable Refinancing Program (HARP) appear to have sparked an increase in loan applications, raising hopes that more underwater mortgages could refinance.

Home Loan Servicing Solutions (HLSS) – an entity whose sole mission in life is to buy servicing rights from Ocwen Financial Corp. – finally went public this week, raising roughly $186 million in cash.

More details are highlighted on bond insurer MBIA's reported losses in the fourth quarter of 2011 from yesterday's article from ASR sister publication The Bond Buyer.

Turning foreclosed properties into rentals on a mass scale will reduce "some of the fears that an avalanche of distressed properties" will rattle the housing market, according to a new report from Wells Fargo Securities (WFS).

Volkswagen AG has priced its €930 million ($1.23 billion) German auto loan securitization called VCL 15.

After popping up eight basis points last week after holding at a record low 3.87% for three weeks, 30-year fixed mortgage rates declined five basis points to 3.90% for the week ending March 1, according to Freddie Mac's survey.

Banks are applying a well-honed strategy to mitigate regulators' recent proposal to determine capital requirements for assets that include securitizations.

The state attorneys general announced last month that they finally reached a settlement with the five largest servicers over improper foreclosure and servicing practices.