Excess spread

Excess spread

Excess spread, a key concept in securitisation, plays a crucial role in determining the performance and profitability of asset-backed securities, or ABS. It refers to the difference between the interest collected from underlying assets and the interest paid to investors. Excess spread cushions against potential losses and expenses, providing a source of income to the issuer. 

What is excess spread? 

The excess spread is the surplus cash flow produced by a pool of securitised assets, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities. It stands for the discrepancy between interest earnings earned from the securities’ underlying assets and interest paid to holders of the securities. In other words, it is the spread or margin that the security issuer has made. In the case of defaults or delinquencies in the underlying assets, the excess spread protects the investors by acting as a cushion against losses. Additionally, it may be utilised to improve the assets’ stability and creditworthiness. 

Understanding excess spread 

The excess spread refers to the difference between the interest income generated by a pool of underlying assets, such as loans or receivables, and the interest payments made to ABS, or mortgage-backed securities, or MBS investors.  

The excess spread acts as a protective cushion for the investors. It covers any potential losses arising from defaults or delinquencies in the underlying assets. If the income generated by the underlying assets exceed the interest payments to investors, the excess spread accumulates and provides a buffer against any losses.  

The excess spread is typically distributed among the investors as additional interest payments or retained by the issuer to build reserves. It helps enhance the credit quality and stability of ABS or MBS transactions, as it provides a source of funds to absorb any unexpected losses and ensure timely payments to investors. 

Importance of excess spread 

The excess spread is important for various financial instruments, including asset-backed securities and collateralised debt obligations. It represents the discrepancy between interest revenue derived from the underlying assets and interest payments made to investors. The capacity of excess spread to act as a buffer against prospective losses or changes in the performance of the underlying assets is what gives it its significance.  

Investors are safeguarded from defaults or delinquencies by this type of credit enhancement. Excess spread ensures that investors obtain their anticipated returns and lowers the risk of principal loss by maintaining the stability and creditworthiness of the structured finance instrument. A wider range of investors is attracted because it boosts investor confidence and makes issuing securities with higher credit ratings possible. 

Workings of excess spread 

The excess spread can be viewed as a form of profit for investors, as it represents the amount of money left over after paying for the costs of servicing the underlying mortgages. This excess spread is typically passed on to investors in the form of higher yields or returns. The more excess spread there is, the more profitable the MBS investment will be. However, the excess spread can also be affected by prepayments, which can reduce the amount of interest paid on the underlying mortgages and thus reduce the amount of excess spread available to investors. 

Therefore, excess spread works as a cash flow buffer in ABS or MBS transactions. The excess spread is created when the interest income generated by the underlying assets exceeds the interest payments to investors. This excess cash flow covers any losses due to defaults or delinquencies in the underlying assets. It provides a cushion of protection for investors, ensuring they continue receiving timely interest payments even in the event of adverse developments in the underlying assets. 

Examples of excess spread 

A securitised pool of home loans is a good example of excess spread. Consider a scenario in which a financial institution creates MBS from a collection of mortgage loans. The interest on the MBS is financed by the borrowers’ interest payments on the underlying mortgages. However, the surplus is referred to as excess spread if the interest earned from the borrowers exceeds the interest owed to the MBS investors. The excess spread can cover credit losses, operating costs, or the issuer’s profit. It protects against probable defaults and improves the MBS’s general performance and creditworthiness. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The excess spread percentage is the difference between the interest rate received on a pool of financial assets, such as loans or mortgages, and the interest rate paid to investors of asset-backed securities backed by those assets. 

Excess spread on MBS refers to the difference between the interest earned on the underlying mortgage loans and the interest paid to the investors of the MBS. It represents the additional cash flow after covering operating expenses and providing for credit losses. 

Excess spread in Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities, or CMBS, refers to the difference between the interest income generated by the underlying commercial mortgage loans and the interest payments made to the CMBS investors. It represents the additional cash flow available after deducting expenses and providing for potential credit losses.  

Essentially, it is the profit the CMBS trust generates after all expenses have been paid. This excess spread is an important factor in determining the credit quality of CMBS. It can offset potential losses in case of default or prepayment of the underlying mortgages. It is also a key consideration for investors when evaluating the performance of CMBS investments. Understanding the excess spread is crucial for anyone looking to invest in CMBS. 

The excess spread captures the difference between the interest income generated from the underlying mortgage loans and the interest paid to MBS investors. This difference, after deducting operating expenses and credit losses, contributes to the excess spread, which enhances the overall yield and cash flow of the MBS. It provides a cushion for the MBS issuer against potential losses and helps support the payment of principal and interest to investors. 

The excess spread in MBS can be used for various purposes, including covering operating expenses, building reserves for credit losses, enhancing the credit quality of the MBS, or distributing additional cash flows to investors. 

Related Terms

    Read the Latest Market Journal

    什么是指数差价合约? 为什么选择指数差价合约?

    Published on May 8, 2024 39 

    指数差价合约是区别于投资个股、指数期货或交易所交易基金(ETF)的一种热门替代品,因为该工具允许您获得特定指数的风险投资组合,并从柜台价格走势中获益,无论做多或做空。此外,由于差价合约的杠杆特性,交易者只需拿出合约价值的一小部分作为初始合约的抵押品即可启动一笔合约。这样,交易者就可以方便快捷地进行整个市场的交易。 本期重点摘要: 股票指数只是一组资产的集合,它概括了股市中某一行业板块的表现。许多此类指数根据不同的标准包含和/或排除某些股票。 指数差价合约有助于利用构成单一指数的各种股票分散您的投资组合、实现投资组合多样化。这也有助于避免 “选择悖论”:指数帮助您决定投资哪些股票。 最重要的是,指数差价合约让交易者获得对指数的接触,而不用购买组成指数的个股。这种具有成本效益的策略让您只需交易指数的价格变化,而无需拥有相关指数本身。 什么是股票指数? 当人们说 “今天市场上涨了 “或 “市场下跌了 “时,你会不会好奇,分析师是如何评估整个市场? 这很简单,他们只需分别将按照今天的报价和昨天的报价购买所有公司所需的金额相加。两相比较下,如果发现今天的数字大于前一天的数字,那么我们就知道今天的市场上涨了,反之亦然。然而,数字的汇总和对比可能会很繁琐和麻烦。创建指数就是为了方便测量。 因此,”股票指数 “一词指的是一组股票(或其他资产)的集合,它提供了股票市场特定部分表现的概况。该指数被用作一个替代指标,用来衡量市场在特定时间段内的涨跌情况,比如以上例子中所描述的逐日指数。...

    外汇价差合约(FX CFD)- 进阶2.0版

    Published on May 2, 2024 53 

    本文旨在为中级外汇交易者提供必要的信息和知识。它将涵盖我们上一篇文章 “五分钟看懂世界上最活跃的市场-外汇差价合约(FX CFD)...

    解锁投资机遇:深入挖掘台湾市场的潜力

    Published on Apr 30, 2024 32 

    解锁台湾股市的投资潜力!深入了解由强大的技术驱动型经济推动的股票市场,2023 年机械和电气设备将占出口的 69%。在政治稳定、投资者友好的法规和健全的法律框架下,探索台积电和富士康等全球顶级企业。台湾股市值得称赞的历史表现和在国际贸易中的的重要性使其更具吸引力。在这个科技实力雄厚、经济稳定、充满活力的股票市场中,抓住增长机遇!

    探索2024年通胀后的形势: 美股市场最值得关注的十大事件

    Published on Apr 30, 2024 34 

    美股2024十大事件

    综合指南:如何通过ETF投资中国

    Published on Apr 30, 2024 26 

    通过ETF投资中国

    探秘外汇市场:揭开心理博弈的神秘面纱

    Published on Apr 30, 2024 46 

    了解外汇市场 外汇交易市场又称外汇市场,是一个买卖货币的全球性金融市场。它是全世界规模最大、流动性最强的金融市场,每日交易量超过 6 万亿美元。但外汇市场有一个重要却常被忽视的一点,就是它受交易心理的影响。在本文中,我们将探讨外汇市场的复杂性,还有把重点放在交易心理与传统交易策略共同发挥的关键作用...

    五分钟看懂世界上最活跃的市场 -外汇差价合约(FX CFD)

    Published on Apr 30, 2024 27 

    外汇交易市场俗称外汇或外汇市场,是全球金融市场的支柱。它是世界上最活跃的市场,2022 年 4 月,全球交易额达到创纪录的每天 7.5 万亿美元[1] 。这个活跃的市场为交易者提供了利用货币价格波动赚取利润的机会。在本文中,我们将解释外汇市场的基本原理,助您了解其投资机制。 什么是外汇? 外汇市场是一个分散的全球市场,世界上所有货币都在这里进行交易...

    ​​人工智能的崛起 – 2 月最火的AI股有哪些?​

    Published on Apr 27, 2024 53 

    随着通胀数据趋向 2% 的理想目标,人们普遍乐观地认为,在任何可能的降息之前,市场都不会受到不利影响。以下是美股市场2024年的一些重要事件,投资者在做出投资决策时可以参考留意。

    联系我们开设账户

    需要帮助吗?请分享您的详细资料,我们会给您答复。

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION

    This material is provided by Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (“PCM”) for general information only and does not constitute a recommendation, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to invest in any of the exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or the unit trust (“Products”) mentioned herein. It does not have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation and any of your particular needs. You should read the Prospectus and the accompanying Product Highlights Sheet (“PHS”) for key features, key risks and other important information of the Products and obtain advice from a financial adviser (“FA“) pursuant to a separate engagement before making a commitment to invest in the Products. In the event that you choose not to obtain advice from a FA, you should assess whether the Products are suitable for you before proceeding to invest. A copy of the Prospectus and PHS are available from PCM, any of its Participating Dealers (“PDs“) for the ETF, or any of its authorised distributors for the unit trust managed by PCM.  

    An ETF is not like a typical unit trust as the units of the ETF (the “Units“) are to be listed and traded like any share on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”). Listing on the SGX-ST does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units which may be traded at prices above or below its NAV or may be suspended or delisted. Investors may buy or sell the Units on SGX-ST when it is listed. Investors cannot create or redeem Units directly with PCM and have no rights to request PCM to redeem or purchase their Units. Creation and redemption of Units are through PDs if investors are clients of the PDs, who have no obligation to agree to create or redeem Units on behalf of any investor and may impose terms and conditions in connection with such creation or redemption orders. Please refer to the Prospectus of the ETF for more details.  

    Investments are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The purchase of a unit in a fund is not the same as placing your money on deposit with a bank or deposit-taking company. There is no guarantee as to the amount of capital invested or return received. The value of the units and the income accruing to the units may fall or rise. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the Products. There can be no assurance that investment objectives will be achieved.  

    Where applicable, fund(s) may invest in financial derivatives and/or participate in securities lending and repurchase transactions for the purpose of hedging and/or efficient portfolio management, subject to the relevant regulatory requirements. PCM reserves the discretion to determine if currency exposure should be hedged actively, passively or not at all, in the best interest of the Products.  

    The regular dividend distributions, out of either income and/or capital, are not guaranteed and subject to PCM’s discretion. Past payout yields and payments do not represent future payout yields and payments. Such dividend distributions will reduce the available capital for reinvestment and may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Products. Please refer to <www.phillipfunds.com> for more information in relation to the dividend distributions.  

    The information provided herein may be obtained or compiled from public and/or third party sources that PCM has no reason to believe are unreliable. Any opinion or view herein is an expression of belief of the individual author or the indicated source (as applicable) only. PCM makes no representation or warranty that such information is accurate, complete, verified or should be relied upon as such. The information does not constitute, and should not be used as a substitute for tax, legal or investment advice.  

    The information herein are not for any person in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or availability for use would contravene any applicable law or regulation or would subject PCM to any registration or licensing requirement in such jurisdiction or country. The Products is not offered to U.S. Persons. PhillipCapital Group of Companies, including PCM, their affiliates and/or their officers, directors and/or employees may own or have positions in the Products. Any member of the PhillipCapital Group of Companies may have acted upon or used the information, analyses and opinions herein before they have been published. 

    This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.  

     

    Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (Co. Reg. No. 199905233W)  
    250 North Bridge Road #06-00, Raffles City Tower ,Singapore 179101 
    Tel: (65) 6230 8133 Fax: (65) 65383066 www.phillipfunds.com