October 23, 2024 (NO COMMENTS)

Strategic shift taps peak valuations and Scotiabank investment to reduce AOCI pressure

KeyCorp sold $7 billion in commercial mortgage backed-securities (CMBSs) at a loss in the fourth quarter, capitalising on a temporary bond market rally to refresh its available-for-sale (AFS) portfolio. The sale resulted in a $918 million pre-tax loss, a significant hit for a mid-sized regional bank. Nevertheless, chief executive and chairman Cristopher Gorman described the timing as fortuitous in retrospect, as the trade occurred “near recent bond-market highs in mid-September”.