Finance

The reverse-mortgage lender saw a quarterly loss but expects originations to increase 10% in the second quarter, as it attempts to address high-yield debt concerns.

At the same time, market share among a trio of the mortgage insurers shifted, data compiled by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods found.

Rocket Cos. reported an increase in gain-on-sale margin but warned that going forward it is likely to slip back to levels seen in the second half of last year.

The 2022 vintage had a higher percentage of purchase mortgages, as well as 30-year fixed-rate loans versus the 2021 production, an annual Federal Housing Finance Agency report said.

But the mortgage unit of Intercontinental Exchange narrowed its quarterly losses and touted the addition of several new customers this year in its earnings call.

Like some other servicers, it recorded a positive change in valuations during the first quarter, contrasting a negative adjustment in the previous period.

Zillow Group Inc. shares fell after the real estate company published a second-quarter outlook that called for lower revenue in its core business and predicted stalling growth in the broader U.S. housing market.

Title insurers, whose activity is highly correlated to mortgage production, wrote $15.1 billion in premiums during 2023, down from $21 billion in 2022 and $26.2 billion for the year before that.

The Federal Open Market Committee held the federal funds rate at current levels, citing "lack of further progress" toward meeting inflation goals.

The enterprise was able to improve on its year-over-year number for loan purchases and earnings in the seasonally weak period, but both were down on a consecutive quarter basis.

Profits in the originations and servicing segment at Newrez drove earnings, while a possible spinoff of Rithm's mortgage operations is still seen as a "work in progress," according to company leaders.

The investment giant said its direct-to-consumer channel will offer ancillary products in preparation for any future refinance environment.

But strong g-fees, a positive credit-loss adjustment and stable home prices bolstered results despite declines in mortgage purchases to lows not seen in some time.

Banks and other financial market participants have been keyed into the central bank's communications around monetary policy expectations. But in an unpredictable economy, the guidance doesn't always hit the mark.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency rule originally proposed last year aims to make it tougher to roll back measures designed to encourage more equitable lending.

The Biden Administration's title waiver pilot has started a broader discussion on whether the product is worth the money paid or even needed at all and can be replaced by an alternative.

Elevated delinquency levels have not affected expected losses, however, due to home price appreciation, Fitch Ratings said.

Real estate brokerage stocks tumbled Thursday on waning expectations for Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, and as a disappointing earnings release raised concern about the sector's outlook.

The massive mortgage business saw a first quarter profit mitigated by nearly $300 million in hedging losses.

The nonbank's results add to other indications that the first quarter's "higher for longer" rate scenario had an upside for efficient servicing operations.