November Sees Increase in Mortgage Delinquencies, Consistent with Historical Trends, Reports ICE Mortgage
Mortgage Delinquency Rate: The national mortgage delinquency rate rose to 3.85% in November, the highest in over four years, with a significant increase in newly delinquent borrowers, totaling 609,000.
Foreclosure Trends: Foreclosure starts decreased by 32% month-over-month but increased by 25% year-over-year, while total foreclosure sales also saw a dip of 14% month-over-month and a rise of 25% year-over-year.
Prepayment Rate: The monthly prepayment rate fell to 0.83%, marking an 18% decrease from the previous month but a 31% increase compared to the same month last year.
Market Performance: The iShares Mortgage Real Estate Capped ETF (REM) dropped 1.6% in the past week but is up 5.0% year-to-date, while the VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (MORT) increased by 2.1% in the past week and 3.3% year-to-date.
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- Index Innovation: OpenVC has launched the NYSE®OpenVC® 500 Index, designed to track the 500 largest companies in the U.S., regardless of whether they are publicly listed or venture-backed, thereby addressing the gap left by traditional indices.
- Market Demand Response: The launch of this index responds to investor demands for greater transparency, especially considering that the two largest venture-backed companies in the U.S. are each valued at over $850 billion, which would place them among the top 15 in the NYSE U.S. 500.
- Comprehensive Methodology: The new index combines constituents from the NYSE U.S. 500 Index and the NYSE OPEN Venture Capital Unicorn Index, utilizing a modified, non-float-adjusted market capitalization approach to ensure fair representation of private companies alongside public peers, enhancing investability.
- Annual Reconstitution and Daily Calculation: The index is reconstituted annually and calculated daily by ICE Data Indices, aiming to provide investors with a benchmark that accurately reflects total U.S. equity performance, capturing value and innovation beyond public markets.

- Volume Growth: In April 2026, Intercontinental Exchange reported a total open interest (OI) increase of 23% year-over-year, reaching a record 125.5 million lots on April 24, indicating a significant rise in market activity that enhances the company's competitive edge in global financial markets.
- Energy Market Performance: Total energy OI rose by 6% year-over-year, with oil OI increasing by 4% and Brent OI by 3%, suggesting sustained demand in the energy sector that could drive prices of related products higher.
- Agricultural and Metals Trading: The average daily volume (ADV) for agriculture and metals grew by 24% year-over-year, with OI up 37%, including a 30% ADV increase for sugar and a 26% rise in OI, reflecting heightened investor interest in these commodities that may influence future market strategies.
- Financial Products Trading: Financial products saw an 8% increase in ADV and a 55% rise in OI, with a record 51.4 million lots on April 30, indicating heightened activity in the financial markets that could lead to increased trading revenue for the company.
- Market Overview: Equities showed little change on Friday morning after the S&P 500 closed above 7,200 for the first time, marking its best month since November 2020, indicating market stability and a recovery in investor confidence.
- Apple's Strong Performance: Global X NYSE 100 ETF component Apple exceeded analyst estimates in its earnings report, with outgoing CEO Tim Cook describing iPhone sales as 'extraordinary,' which is likely to enhance the company's competitive edge and bolster investor confidence.
- BNY's AI Investment: BNY (NYSE: BK) has invested in the sovereign AI platform Domyn to strengthen its financial AI objectives, reflecting the company's strategic positioning in technology innovation and financial services, potentially leading to long-term business growth.
- Artemis II Celebration: Astronauts from the historic Artemis II mission will participate in a 'Bell Moment' at the NYSE, which not only enhances the exchange's public image but may also attract more investor interest in space exploration-related investment opportunities.
- Significant Profit Growth: Cboe Global Markets reported a net income of $384.1 million for Q1, translating to $3.66 per share, a substantial increase from $249.4 million and $2.37 per share a year earlier, showcasing the company's robust profitability amid market volatility.
- Trading Driven by Volatility: Heightened market volatility due to the Middle East conflict led to a surge in options trading, with average daily volume in index options reaching an all-time high of 6.1 million contracts, a 27% increase from 4.8 million a year prior, significantly boosting transaction and clearing fee revenues.
- Strategic Restructuring Plan: Cboe announced a 20% workforce reduction as part of a strategic realignment, with CEO Craig Donohue stating that this move aims to enhance focus and investment in core businesses driving earnings, reflecting the company's agility and foresight in navigating market changes.
- Strong Industry Performance: Cboe's impressive results align with the overall strong performance of U.S. exchange operators like CME Group, Nasdaq, and Intercontinental Exchange, indicating that increased trading activity across the industry is bolstered by market volatility, further solidifying Cboe's competitive position.
- Strong Performance: Intercontinental Exchange reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.35 for Q1 2026, a 37% year-over-year increase, with net revenues reaching a record $3 billion, showcasing the company's robust market performance and profitability.
- Capital Returns: The company repurchased approximately $550 million of stock and returned nearly $850 million to shareholders, including dividends, indicating management's confidence in future growth and commitment to shareholders.
- Robust Market Activity: First quarter exchange net revenues hit $1.8 billion, up 27% year-over-year, with interest rate products growing nearly 70% and global oil revenues increasing by 47%, reflecting heightened market participation and customer confidence.
- Strategic Developments: Management highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Securitize to advance the tokenized securities platform and collaboration with OKX to launch regulated crypto futures tied to OKX spot prices, demonstrating the company's forward-looking approach in the digital asset space.
- Dividend Increase: Intercontinental Exchange has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.52 per share, marking an 8% increase from the previous $0.48, which reflects the company's ongoing improvement in cash flow stability and profitability, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on June 30, with a record date of June 15 and an ex-dividend date also set for June 15, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and further solidifying the company's relationship with its investors.
- Market Reaction: This dividend increase is likely to attract more investor interest in Intercontinental Exchange's stock, especially in the current macroeconomic environment, where a stable dividend policy enhances the company's appeal in the capital markets.
- Financial Health: The increase in dividends reflects the financial health of Intercontinental Exchange, as the company continues to achieve profit growth despite macroeconomic challenges, demonstrating the resilience and sustainability of its business model.







