Government

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's might be looking to strike a deal of up to $1 billion with the government to settle a suit filed last year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The suit alleges that S&P "knowingly and with the intent to defraud, devised, participated in, and executed a scheme to defraud investors" in collateralized debt obligations and securities backed by residential mortgages between September 2004 and October 2007.

In a testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen made the case that while the economy has seen improvement, the economic recovery is still too fragile to deviate from the present course of Fed policy. Notably, Yellen noted the recent cooling in housing as a sign.

On the heels of the government's $7 billion settlement with Citigroup over toxic residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), leaders at the Department of Justice revealed Monday there may be similar settlements or lawsuits on the way. The comments take on deeper meaning in the context of the government's ongoing dealings with Bank of America, which was reportedly close to reaching a settlement on its own MBS case until negotiations stalled.

The mortgage industry had a lot to say late last week following the release of new draft standards for private mortgage insurers to work with GSE loans—and not all of the reactions were positive. U.S. Mortgage Insurers (USMI), a trade group comprised of a number of member insurers, was quick to lend its support in a statement, though not all member companies agreed.

The CFPB issued guidance to curb brokers transitioning into the "mini-correspondent" model in the hopes of avoiding rules affecting broker compensation. "Today we are putting companies on notice that they cannot avoid those rules by calling themselves by a different name," commented CFPB Director Richard Cordray with the release of the new guidance.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released a draft for new eligibility requirements for private mortgage insurers who insure mortgage loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The agency is seeking comments on the draft and will accept input through September 8.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance this week aimed at making it easier for surviving family members who have inherited a property due the death of ...

Representatives John K. Delaney (D-Maryland), John Carney (D-Delaware), and Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) introduced Thursday new housing finance reform legislation aimed at winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and replacing them with a federally backed insurance program administered through Ginnie Mae.

Citing unnamed sources, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday that Citigroup and the Justice Department are closing in on a $7 billion settlement to resolve an investigation into the bank's sale of faulty mortgage-backed securities. The Journal reports that according to people familiar with the matter, the deal will include $4 billion in cash payments to the federal government, with the rest coming in the form of borrower relief.

In an event in Chicago, FHFA Director Mel Watt said fear of being scammed is to blame for low participation rates in the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). According to an FHFA report, the number of homeowners refinancing monthly through HARP has dropped nationally to just less than 20,000 loans in April 2014, down year-over-year from almost 107,000 in April 2013.