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Mortgage Market Insights: QM Rules and the GSE Patch

By Rene Segura, Market Analysis Manager | Joseph Blute, Market Analysis Manager 20 Feb 2020

Over the past few months, lots of commentary and speculation has been shared around the QM rule changes, the GSE patch, the patch's expiration and how it will all affect mortgage lenders. In this discussion, we will examine how these rules came about, what the expected changes are, and how these changes may affect future mortgage originations.

Topic Industry News

PSN Separately Managed Accounts (SMA) Data, P...

Q4 2019 PSN Top Guns – Markets Cap Off 2019 With a Bang

By Ryan Nauman 19 Feb 2020

A stellar 2019 finished with a bang as the geopolitical risks that dominated headlines and markets for the better part of 2019 diminished during the fourth quarter while economic data remained stable. The S&P 500 index posted a +9.07% return during the quarter as a phase one trade agreement between the U.S. and China provided a boost for global markets and increased investor optimism. Furthermore, the MSCI EAFE index posted an +8.21% return during the quarter as global investors cheered the trade agreement while hoping the easing trade tensions will provide relief to the soft global economy. Despite a 25-basis point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed), the improved investor sentiment hurt Treasuries, as the BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury index returned -0.89% during the quarter.

Topic Industry News

EPFR Fund Flows

Quants Corner - Getting the right balance on commodities exposure

By Vik Srimurthy 19 Feb 2020

It is an article of investible faith that geopolitical and financials crisis, natural disasters and epidemics translate into greater demand for gold and other precious metals. The coronavirus outbreak centered in Wuhan, China certainly fits these criteria and has generated a predictable flight to gold in its various forms. Fund flow data has, over the years, proved useful in confirming surges in demand, measuring the relative strength of that demand and identifying the inflection points that signal a shift in sentiment towards gold (see chart below). But using this information leaves investors making largely qualitative decisions about the optimum exposure to this asset class.  

Topic Industry News

IGM Credit, IGM FX and Rates

China Insight: Credit Bonds Will Play Catch up on More Supportive Measures

By Tim Cheung 18 Feb 2020

The authorities, MOF, PBOC and CBIRC, hosted a joint conference on Feb 7 to provide an update on supportive policies in light of the coronavirus situation. We believe the conference delivered a loosening bias tone as a nimble response to the virus outbreak. Next move following the huge liquidity injection and provision of first batch of special relending funds to more than a dozen of banks is going to be an LPR cut on 20 Feb. We expect a 10bp cut in both 1-year and 5-year LPRs on 20 Feb (chart 1), similar to the magnitude of the latest OMO rate cut. A more sizable cut may mean the policymakers are opting for more aggressive monetary easing to cushion the economic shocks arising from the coronavirus outbreak.      

Topic Industry News

PSN Enterprise - Separate Account Analytics S...

Ryan Nauman's Weekly Recap 02.18.20

By Ryan Nauman 18 Feb 2020

The week ahead is full of housing data, from home builders' confidence to existing home sales. The housing market has recently stabilized, in large part due to a strong labor market and low mortgage rates, however, for the sector to completely rebound, inventory needs to pick up, so the release of housing starts and building permits data should be widely watched. Walmart is the headline earnings release, while providing insight into the consumer after the soft retail sales number last week. Is the consumer still willing to shoulder the economy, or are they losing some momentum? Read more from Ryan Nauman's Weekly Recap and subscribe to have it delivered to your inbox each week!

Topic Industry News

IGM Credit, IGM FX and Rates

The Context 02.18.20

18 Feb 2020

Inside this week’s edition of The Context, Financial Intelligence thought leaders discuss: The JPY Week - Bias is Bearish Has the impact of coronavirus now peaked? We say such talk is premature and an underlying bid Usd/Jpy will continue to slow into 110.00-plus. Euro FIG Snapshot: Virus Protection Fully Operational With the recovery in risk assets extending into a second week, more issuers emerging from blackout and the credit market's virus protection evidently up to date, the pace picked up in the non-covered primary FIG market last week. Equities Ignore, Hope … Euro Indicates Slowing EMU Economy It doesn’t take much to light a fire under equities, but it is going to take much more to push bond yields higher... Read more from The Context and subscribe to have it delivered to your inbox each week!

Topic Industry News

EPFR Fund Flows

Bond Funds see record setting inflows for the second time year-to-date

By Cameron Brandt 14 Feb 2020

Investors showed signs they are learning to live with the Wuhan coronavirus during the second week of February, steering fresh money to most of the fund groups tracked by EPFR. They committed a combined $36 billion to all Equity and Bond Funds -- with Bond Funds setting their second weekly inflow record since the start of the year -- and showed increased appetite for riskier asset classes such as junk bonds, emerging markets equity and debt and alternative assets. Diversified fund groups remained popular with investors going into the second half of February. Global Equity Funds recorded their biggest inflow since 1Q18, Global Bond Funds took in fresh money for the 49th time in the past 52 weeks and Global Emerging Markets Equity (GEM) Equity Funds extended their longest inflow streak since a 19-week run ended in mid-2Q18. Overall, the week ending Feb. 12 saw Bond Funds take in a net $23.6 billion, Equity Funds $12.5 billion, Money Market Funds $9.3 billion, Balanced Funds $638 million and Alternative Funds $277 million. Equity Funds with socially responsible (SRI) or environmental, social and governance (ESG) mandates attracted nearly a third of the headline number for all Equity Funds, and those with a focus in dividend paying stocks posted inflows for the fourth time in the past five weeks and 18th in the past 22.

Topic Industry News