MCT does not try to guess or time the market. Instead, all hedge decisions are data-driven and a function of loan collateral characteristics and pipeline dynamics. As a mortgage pipeline hedging vehicle, MCT Trading advocates TBA mortgage-backed securities as the most cost-efficient and effective way to hedge mortgage pipelines for mid-sized mortgage bankers (volume under 500m/month.) Unlike options, there are no upfront premiums to be paid, better liquidity (resulting in lower and more transparent trading costs,) and substantially reduced risk of hedge modeling error.
Specifically, MCT pursues a “TBA duration/convexity” matching hedge strategy. In practice, this means MCT uses mathematical modeling of both loan pricing data and fixed income security pricing to match the duration and convexity of mortgage loan portfolios to corresponding mortgage asset backed securities. Through this duration/convexity matching approach, interest rate-driven changes in loan values over the loan processing period can be offset with the forward sale of mortgage back bonds.
At present, the HALO Program hedges a limited selection of loan programs including fixed-rate conforming conventional, FHA, and VA loan programs. Hedge recommendations are a function of loan-specific interest rate/price sensitivity and expected pull-through. MCT adjusts our clients’ expected pipeline pull-through daily based on current interest rates and the process stage of each loan.
MCT believes it is vital to provide our clients with an instantaneous picture of current pipeline and market position. As such, we have developed a comprehensive and easy-to-read set of risk management position and performance reports that are provided daily or, more frequently if necessary. These reports are customized per client requirements and provide ‘dashboard control’ for our clients’ business.
Pipeline mark-to-market
Mortgage pull through report• Pipeline profitability
Coverage breakdown
Hedge recommendation
Historical profit performance (based on actuals)
To learn more about HALO pipeline hedging, contact us by clicking here