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Increasing pessimism about housing is driving Fannie Mae's estimates for originations this year down a little further.

The Portland, Ore, company also benefited from lower expenses and an improved efficiency ratio.

Former Chair Janet Yellen defended the Fed, expressed worry for the economy and gave advice to women on the rise at the MBA Annual Convention this week.

The mortgages being reinsured are more seasoned than most other deals rated by Morningstar, which helps offset the risk of lower initial weighed average LTV.

MGIC Investment Corp.'s quarterly earnings were again driven by better-than-expected loss development, and those favorable results should be seen in the other private mortgage insurers' results as well, an industry analyst said.

Exploration and adoption of new technologies is essential for achieving strategic goals and satisfying the needs and expectations of mortgage borrowers.

Nomura Holding America and affiliates agreed to pay a $480 million penalty to resolve U.S. claims that the bank misled investors in marketing and selling mortgage-backed securities tied to the 2008 financial crisis, according to the Justice Department.

A notable drop in home equity lending at Bank of America during the third quarter contributed to an overall decline in new single-family loans produced by the company.

The departing CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac oversaw significant cultural and operational shifts that made the housing finance system safer and more responsive to market needs, but a tough job lies ahead for their successors.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have launched an online clearinghouse with resources to assist lenders in serving borrowers with limited English proficiency.