Secondary

Inflation and higher interest rates are hurting distressed borrowers, but low unemployment, remaining forbearance and loss mitigation options are still blunting their impacts, recent loan-performance numbers suggest.

Delinquencies are likely to rise if both interest rates and inflation continue their upward movements, a DBRS Morningstar report said.

Like other mortgage lenders, the San Francisco megabank has been cutting staff since refinancing volumes started to fall. Additional layoffs are expected over the next couple of quarters, according to the bank’s chief financial officer.

These results are likely to be mirrored by the nonbank lenders when they report earnings, said Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

Wells Fargo missed analysts’ earnings estimates as home lending slowed and the bank set aside more than expected for potentially soured loans as the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes started to cool the once-hot housing market.

The San Francisco bank reported a 31% increase in loan originations during the second quarter. Analysts are wondering whether it will be able to secure enough low-cost funds to avoid eroding margins.

The company looks to leverage its understanding of credit risk developed through its mortgage insurance and analytics operations.

Led by Rep. French Hill, the group of conservative lawmakers said the agency must do more to ensure appropriate transparency regarding any new products or activities that the enterprises undertake.

The government-sponsored enterprises divested themselves of the largest share of these loans since they first began selling them in 2014, a Federal Housing Finance Agency report found.

The 18.5% increase in Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's purchase authority was the driver of a 41% decrease in higher balance originations between December and January.