mREIT Bloodbath, Questionable Insurance & Weekend Reading | Where the Money Is - July 26 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The government indictment of SAC Capital has implications for Wall Street, particularly in terms of insider trading. Mortgage REITs are reporting earnings, and their performance will be affected by the recent spike in interest rates.

Key Insights

• 🦔 The indictment of SAC Capital highlights the issue of insider trading in the hedge fund industry, which has been a concern for retail investors.
• 😀 Investment banks with prime brokerage services may face revenue risks if insider trading allegations continue to emerge.
• ☠️ Mortgage REITs, such as American Capital Agency, are reporting earnings and may see losses due to the spike in interest rates, affecting their dividend payouts.

Transcript

the government just laid the smackdown on one of the largest hedge funds in the country mortgage reats are on Deck to report earnings and David and I are going to share our weekend reading with you you're in the right place folks because this is where the money is Matt so you mentioned uh the smackdown in the intro inditing SAC Capital what does th... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the indictment of SAC Capital affect the rest of Wall Street?

The indictment signals a crackdown on insider trading, which is a prevalent issue in the hedge fund industry. If proven true, retail investors would likely feel relieved about removing a hedge fund involved in such activities.

Q: How does the insider trading issue impact investment banks?

Investment banks, particularly those with prime brokerage services, have exposure to hedge funds engaged in insider trading. The revenue side of investment banks could be affected if this issue becomes more widespread.

Q: How do mortgage REITs factor into this analysis?

Mortgage REITs rely on mortgage-backed securities, and their performance is affected by interest rates. The recent spike in rates may result in losses in net income and book value for American Capital Agency, potentially impacting their dividend payouts.

Q: Is there a buying opportunity in mortgage insurance stocks?

There may be a short-term opportunity due to the recovering housing market and reduced default rates. However, the long-term future of mortgage insurance companies is uncertain, given the risk of overleveraging by home buyers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• SAC Capital's indictment impacts the rest of Wall Street, with retail investors primarily feeling relieved if allegations of rampant insider trading are proven true.

• Hedge funds engaging in insider trading have affected the revenue side of investment banks, especially through prime brokerage services.

• Mortgage REITs are reporting earnings, with American Capital Agency expected to post a loss due to the spike in interest rates, potentially affecting their dividend payouts.