Loan defaults associated with the three late summer hurricanes could have a more immediate effect on MGIC Investment Corp.'s secondary market capital cushion than proposed changes by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Bank of America's mortgage banking business reported a loss for the fourth quarter driven largely by representations and warrants provisions.

The company, which bought BNC Bancorp to enter North Carolina last year, recorded $19.1 million in merger-related expenses and an $8.3 million pretax loss tied to investment securities.

Citigroup's fourth-quarter residential mortgage banking revenue was 22% lower from the previous year because the company sold the vast majority of its servicing rights.

The JPMorgan Chase CEO is rejecting arguments that banks are poised to loosen underwriting standards to win more mortgage business. He said what's needed to encourage banks to make more loans to borrowers with spotty credit files are changes to FHA rules and other policy fixes.

JPMorgan Chase reported lower mortgage banking revenue in the fourth quarter as the returns from its servicing business declined from the previous year.

Wells Fargo had another surprise for investors in the form of its biggest legal charge yet, showing the lender is not yet past its consumer banking scandals.

The company said it will lay off more than a dozen employees in a move that reflects the current volume of mortgage loan originations.

The agency's Quarterly Banking Profile said banks earned $47.9 billion in the third quarter, helped by a 7.4% increase in net interest income from the previous year.

Home Depot saw sales surge in the wake of this year's barrage of hurricanes, but the storms still took a toll on the retailer's bottom line.

The J.G. Wentworth Co.'s financial results improved in the third quarter, due in part to an increase in mortgage originations, but it continued to operate at a loss.

Equifax reported earnings that were 27% lower and mortgage services revenue was 2% lower on a year-to-year basis after revealing a major breach and taking steps to improve security.

Walter Investment Management Corp. is looking to file for bankruptcy protection by Nov. 30, after lining up $1.9 billion of debtor-in-possession warehouse financing.

Impac Mortgage Holdings' nonqualified mortgage origination volume increased 248% year-over-year in the third quarter as the company accumulates loans for a planned securitization next year.

PHH Corp.'s net loss grew in the third quarter as the company took a hit from the costs of its transformation to being a subservicer and portfolio retention originator.

Genworth Financial had net income of $107 million because of its U.S. mortgage insurance business, but it is considering a partial sale of the unit if the parent company isn't acquired by next May.

Fannie Mae servicers are facing pressure from the recent hurricanes, but so far are bearing up under the strain.

Nationstar Mortgage Holdings posted net income of $7 million for the third quarter, its first under the new Mr. Cooper consumer-facing brand.

Ocwen Financial Corp. lost $6.1 million in the third quarter, as pretax losses from its origination business outweighed any profits generated from the servicing side.

A securities settlement, portfolio asset sales and greater interest among smaller lenders helped Freddie Mac compensate for potential losses from the catastrophic hurricane season.