Fixed income

Earnings at four of the private mortgage insurers increased significantly over last year's third quarter even as total mortgage origination volume shrunk during the same time frame.

Lennar Corp. is selling a portion of its Rialto business to Stone Point Capital for $340 million, adding to Stone Point's holdings in the real estate and financial industries.

Black Knight's third-quarter net earnings were slightly below the same period last year, although total revenue increased by 7% compared with one year prior.

Rising interest rates and the continued slowdown in mortgage originations prompted Ellie Mae to cut its revenue forecast for the full year by at least $18 million.

All four national title insurance underwriters saw an increase in third-quarter net earnings compared with one year prior even as new orders declined because mortgage origination volume fell this year.

Mortgage rates increased slightly across the board, even as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 1,000 points over the past few days, according to Freddie Mac.

Builder M/I Homes set third-quarter records in four areas and recorded consistent levels of mortgages held for sale in its most recent earnings results.

Despite an overall weak mortgage originations market, Flagstar Bancorp's third-quarter earnings grew 20%, due in large part to its ongoing efforts to diversify operations.

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.

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.

Mortgage-related earnings at five banks were lower due to the effect of higher interest rates on loan volume this year, even though late-season homebuyers improved consecutive-quarter origination numbers at three companies.

Washington Mutual successor WMIH Corp. has completed its pending 1-for-12 reverse stock split and its common shares will soon begin trading under the Mr. Cooper name it inherited from Nationstar Mortgage.

D.R. Horton is selling more homes, but its cancellation rates also are higher in the company's primary fiscal year results, a sign that rising mortgage rates may be affecting the market.

The housing market is stalling, and homebuilder stocks are feeling the pain.

Annaly Capital Management will be able to proceed with a delayed exchange offer needed for its acquisition of MTGE Investment Corp. because it has been able to satisfy incomplete deal conditions.

The expiration of Annaly Capital Management's offer to purchase MTGE Investment Corp. was delayed until Sept. 7 so the two real estate investment trusts have more time to satisfy deal conditions.

Ditech Holding Corp. posted a net loss of $40.5 million in its first full operating quarter since emerging from bankruptcy protection in February.

Redwood Trust's net income was down 30% from the prior quarter as mortgage banking activities earnings fell by 60%.

PHH Corp. remained above the adjusted net worth and cash requirements for the company's proposed acquisition by Ocwen to take place, even though it lost $35 million in the second quarter.

National MI deliberately dropped some of its customers in the second quarter, resulting in flat new insurance growth compared with the first quarter and a lower increase versus one year prior.