Quote from ralph00:
Uh, no. The best thing in the world at the moment for the mREITs would be TLT going down (i.e., long rates moving higher).
mREITs are getting hammered because rates are too low, not because they're moving up.
1. These guys basically borrow short, lend long. Low long rates cut their net interest margin. Absent an increase in leverage, they earn less.
2. Low rates (particularly as they lower MBS yields) combined with banks' growing willingness to lend could lead to a refi boom - meaning mortgages on mREIT balance sheets priced at 105 will get called away at 100 - devastating to book values.
Other than that, there's a lot of value in what you said. Carry on.![]()
+1
mReits are short calls on their bonds. The higher rates go the more out of the money they get... those calls are what everyone focuses on in mortgages.