U.S. equity markets rallied to fresh record-highs this past week as investors leaned into rate cut expectations following a wave of soft employment data and a Federal Government shutdown. For the fourth time since 1995, the federal government entered a partial "shutdown" after the U.S. Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold required for passage of appropriations. Defering to experience from prior shutdowns in 2013 (16 days) and in 2018 (35 days), markets largely shrugged off the latest Congressional impasse, with investors still anticipating a timely resolution.

Agency mREITs capitalized on wide mortgage spreads by issuing equity and buying agency-backed mortgages, leading to significant mark-to-market gains as spreads tightened. Dynex and AGNC Investment expanded portfolios via equity issuance, benefiting preferred shareholders through increased equity cushion, though common shares face dilution. AGNCZ, AGNC's new Series H preferred, offers an 8.75% yield and is attractive for income investors; Armour and Two Harbors preferreds also present upside potential.

Banks don't hold the loans they originate on their balance sheet; that would result in severe limitations to their lending. We dive into the history of mortgages and explain how home ownership became accessible for millions of Americans. We discuss preferred securities of popular agency mREITs that pay significant, well-covered dividends.

U.S. equity markets notched another series of record highs this week, surging into the weekend after surprisingly dovish commentary from Federal Reserve Chair Powell, who hinted at imminent rate cuts. Powell used his final Jackson Hole speech as Fed Chair to deliver a clear policy pivot, an unexpected reversal after months of insistence that tariff-related inflation warranted a hawkish framework. Markets were equally relieved by the policy-focused nature of Powell's speech amid speculation that the address may be used instead as a potential defiant sermon on central bank independence.

U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record highs this week despite a jump in producer prices, but consumer inflation remained "cool enough" to keep the Fed on-course for September rate cuts. Despite the inflation uptick in July, all three major CPI and PPI metrics remained below the annualized levels seen in January preceding the initial wave of tariffs. Ahead of the Chair Powell's "farewell tour" in Jackson Hole, the inevitability of significantly easier monetary policy by mid-2026 - at the latest- has fully taken hold in recent weeks.

AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC ) Q2 2025 Earnings Conference Call July 22, 2025 8:30 AM ET Company Participants Katherine Turlington - Investor Relations Analyst Peter Federico - President, CEO & Director and Chief Investment Officer Bernice Bell - Executive VP & CFO Conference Call Participants Douglas Harter - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Crispin Love - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division Trevor Cranston - Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division Bose George - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division Jason Weaver - JonesTrading Institutional Services, LLC, Research Division Jason Stewart - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division Eric Hagen - BTIG, LLC, Research Division Richard Shane - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Harsh Hemnani - Green Street Advisors, LLC, Research Division Operator Good morning, and welcome to the AGNC Investment Corp. Second Quarter 2025 Shareholder Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded.

U.S. equity markets retreated from record highs this week after the White House reignited its tariff offensive with a wave of aggressive levies and additional punitive threats. While inflation data has indicated that the 10% tariffs were efficiently absorbed, the pivot back towards Liberation Day tariff levels raises concern that recent deflationary offsets may be overwhelmed. After closing at record highs for two straight weeks, the S&P 500 retreated by 0.3% this past week, trading in a relatively tight trading range as investors geared up for earnings season.

US equity markets posted modest declines this past week after the Federal Reserve held rates steady and maintained its status quo "wait-and-see" approach, but acknowledged heightened inflation and labor market risks. Meanwhile, White House officials headed to Switzerland to begin high-level trade talks with China, which follows the announcement of the first major post-Liberation Day trade deal with the United Kingdom. Following its best two-week stretch since late 2022, the S&P 500 slipped 0.4% this week - extending its drawdown to around 8% from its mid-February record highs.

AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC ) Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call April 22, 2025 8:30 AM ET Company Participants Katherine Turlington - IR Peter Federico - Director, President and CEO Bernice Bell - EVP and CFO Christopher Kuehl - EVP and Chief Investment Officer Conference Call Participants Bose George - KBW Crispin Love - Piper Sandler Doug Harter - UBS Trevor Cranston - JMP Securities Matthew Erdner - JonesTrading Jason Stewart - Janney Montgomery Scott Eric Hagen - BTIG Rick Shane - JPMorgan Harsh Hemnani - Green Streets Operator Good morning, and welcome to the AGNC Investment Corp. First Quarter 2025 Shareholder Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode.

AGNC has delivered subpar returns, with only 1% annualized over a decade. The bulk of this was powered by selling stock above tangible equity and not from the base business. We dive into how an income investor, even one requiring very high yields, can do better with other lower-yielding plays.