RMBS

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported that its Refinance Index plunged 16.5% to ~3831 for the week ending Nov.12. This is the lowest the index has been since early July.

Defunct bond insurer Syncora Guarantee reported positive net income for the first three quarters of the year, but said near-term insolvency is still a concern if its insured portfolio tumbles.

The 50-state attorneys general's investigation into the foreclosure scandal might be close to a settlement, reports indicate.

Top executives from Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase are seeking to reassure lawmakers that exhausting alternatives to foreclosure for troubled borrowers is their top priority as they face ongoing questions about their servicing processes.

Originator support should diminish for Spanish structured finance transactions through refinancing and restructuring of loans that are at risk or delinquent, Fitch Ratings analysts said.

Ireland is the latest country to test the resiliency of European securitization structures against sovereign risk.

A rising number of RMBS are now exposed to 'tail risk', Fitch Ratings said in a report released today.

Among the mortgage market risks Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) chair Sheila Bair has her eye on are recent foreclosure concerns, interest rates, mortgage underwriting and government reallocation away from housing—the last being something she sees advantages to but also acknowledges some potential problems with.

Amid continued weakness for the Federal Home Loan Bank System (FHLBank), its chief regulator said it is committed to getting the regional GSEs back to their core mission of lending to members.

The Federal Reserve's recently launched asset purchase program is making the market nervous.