MBS Speeds Termed 'Warning Shot'

Prepayment rates for 30-year Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities rose sharply in March, sending "a warning shot to mortgage investors," according to Bear Stearns & Co.Fannie Mae speeds rose from a constant prepayment rate of 18 CPR overall to 24 CPR in March in response to a rally in mortgage rates from 5.77% in February to 5.64%, as well as other factors such as a greater number of business days and a 14% increase in seasonal factors affecting turnover, said Bear Stearns analyst Dale Westhoff. Mr. Westhoff said the report is a warning shot to investors. "While relative coupon speeds are still well below levels observed in a typical refinance wave, the idea that somehow U.S. borrowers have become indifferent to new refinancing opportunities (a recent popular story) has been put to bed," he declared. "Borrowers viewed the rally and then sharp sell-off in mortgage rates in February as a last and best opportunity to lock in historically low rates." The Bear Stearns analyst said the "most striking" aspect of the report was "the uniformly strong prepayment response across coupons and vintages, particularly a reawakening of seasoned premium cohorts after several months of muted prepayments." Bear Stearns can be found online at http://www.bearstearns.com.