Stocks

MGIC Investment Corp. posted better-than-expected first-quarter earnings as expenses were lower than projected while net premiums came in higher.

Homebuilder stocks are slipping after sales of previously owned homes fell more than forecast in March and KBW cut its rating on D.R. Horton shares.

Lower interest rates increased Bank of America's first-quarter residential mortgage volume by 21% over the previous year, while home equity dropped by 25%.

First-quarter mortgage banking results at Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase could be an early sign of an improving industry.

B. Riley FBR initiated equity coverage on Fannie Mae as the chances for privatization of the government-sponsored enterprises improved in a housing finance reform package.

Two Harbors Investment Corp., which grew its servicing portfolio by 22% in the fourth quarter, priced a common stock offering to raise funds to buy more rights as well as mortgage-backed securities.

Impac Mortgage Holdings saw its shift to predominantly originate non-qualified mortgage loans reduce its fourth-quarter GAAP net loss along with increasing its gain-on-sale margins.

A subsidiary of digital-media company Beta Music Group is linking its origination support technology with Arive's online platform, which connects mortgage brokers to lenders, borrowers and third-party vendors.

Falling interest rates contributed to efforts that helped Hovnanian Enterprises nearly halve its net loss during its fiscal first quarter, when it maintained a strong sales pace by selling more low-priced homes.

New York regulators rejected Fidelity National Financial's acquisition of Stewart Information Services because the combination would have a dominant share of title insurance in the state.