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In addition to changes in interest rates, other factors impact the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive investments,
such as the shape of the yield curve, market expectations as to future interest rate changes and other market conditions.
Accordingly, in the event of changes in actual interest rates, the change in the fair value of our assets would likely differ
from
that shown above and such difference might be material and adverse to our stockholders.
Prepayment Risk
Because residential borrowers have the option to prepay their mortgage loans at par at any time, we face the risk that
we will experience a return of principal on our investments faster than anticipated. Various factors affect
the rate at which
mortgage prepayments occur, including changes in the level of and directional trends in housing prices, interest rates,
general economic conditions, loan age and size, loan-to-value ratio, the location of the property and social and demographic
conditions. Additionally, changes to government sponsored entity underwriting practices or other governmental programs
could also significantly impact prepayment rates or expectations. Generally, prepayments on Agency
RMBS increase during
periods of falling mortgage interest rates and decrease during periods of rising mortgage interest rates. However, this may
not always be the case.
We may reinvest principal repayments at a yield that is lower or higher than the yield on the repaid
investment, thus affecting our net interest income by altering the average yield on our assets.
Spread Risk
When the market spread widens between the yield on our Agency RMBS and benchmark interest rates, our net book
value could decline if the value of our Agency RMBS falls by more than the offsetting fair value increases on our hedging
instruments tied to the underlying benchmark interest rates. We refer to this as "spread risk" or "basis risk." The spread risk
associated with our mortgage assets and the resulting fluctuations in fair value of these securities can occur independent of
changes in benchmark interest rates and may relate to other factors impacting the mortgage and fixed income markets,
such as actual or anticipated monetary policy actions by the Fed, market liquidity, or changes in required rates of return on
different assets. Consequently, while we use futures contracts and
interest rate swaps and swaptions to attempt to protect
against moves in interest rates, such instruments typically will not protect our net book value against spread risk.
Liquidity Risk
The primary liquidity risk for us arises from financing long-term assets with shorter-term borrowings through repurchase
agreements. Our assets that are pledged to secure repurchase agreements are Agency RMBS and cash. As of March 31,
2021, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $211.4 million and unpledged securities of approximately $218.0
million (not including securities pledged to us) available to meet margin calls on our repurchase agreements and derivative
contracts, and for other corporate purposes. However, should the value of our Agency RMBS pledged as collateral or the
value of our derivative instruments suddenly decrease, margin calls relating to our repurchase and derivative agreements
could increase, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position. Further, there is no assurance that we will always be
able to renew (or roll) our repurchase agreements. In addition, our counterparties have the option to increase our haircuts
(margin requirements) on the assets we pledge against repurchase agreements, thereby reducing the amount that can be
borrowed against an asset even if they agree to renew or roll the repurchase agreement. Significantly higher haircuts can
reduce our ability to leverage our portfolio or even force us to sell assets, especially if correlated with asset price declines or
faster prepayment rates on our assets.
Extension Risk
The projected weighted average life and the duration (or interest rate sensitivity) of our investments is based on our
Manager's assumptions regarding the rate at which the borrowers will prepay the underlying mortgage loans. In general, we
use futures contracts and interest rate swaps and swaptions to help manage our funding cost on our investments in the
event that interest rates rise. These hedging instruments allow us to reduce our funding exposure on the notional amount of
the instrument for a specified period of time.