Publicly traded lenders, including UWM, Rocket Mortgage and Guild Mortgage, saw personnel expenses increase significantly throughout last year.

The private mortgage insurers reported just 5% less business versus the third quarter and 33% more new insurance written over the fourth quarter 2023.

Private mortgage insurers are having a strong year so far, although most had flat business in the third quarter, industry results show.

Three of the four largest title insurers were profitable in the third quarter; First American's loss should set it up for future gains, its execs said.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. became the first US company outside of the tech sector to surpass $1 trillion in market value.

New insurance written in the second quarter was only 2% lower year-over-year, the smallest drop in nearly three years.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s cash pile hit yet another record as billionaire investor Warren Buffett confronted a dearth of big-ticket deals. Operating earnings also rose, buoyed by his collection of insurance businesses.

At the same time, market share among a trio of the mortgage insurers shifted, data compiled by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods found.

The conglomerate reported fourth-quarter operating earnings of $8.48 billion on Saturday, versus $6.63 billion for the same period a year earlier, helped by an increase in insurance underwriting earnings and investment income amid higher interest rates and milder weather.

This business, tied to the mortgage origination outlook, is becoming ly attractive for 2024, according to BTIG.