Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Hatteras Financial Corp. on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael R. Hough, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Hatteras Financial Corp., certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) the Report, containing the financial statements, fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Hatteras Financial Corp.

February 18, 2011

/s/ MICHAEL R. HOUGH

Michael R. Hough

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board