Standard & Poor’s issued presale reports on two collateralized loan obligations this week, putting issuance for the year to date near $50 billion, by the ratings agency’s count, and near the 2005 total of $53 billion.

David Kucera has retired as head of the securitization business at BMO Capital, he confirmed today.

High capital charges for securitizations under the new Solvency II directive could lead European insurers to dramatically reduce exposure to the asset class and invest in covered bonds instead, said Standard & Poor’s this week.

It looks like the CFPB’s deliberations over the qualified mortgage rule will go down to the wire, with agency officials still divided over underwriting requirements that could set the standard for years to come.

The White House has put together a long list of candidates who might eventually replace Edward DeMarco as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, according to officials who have been briefed on the matter.

Mortgage backed securities account for the lowest share of total structured finance issuance in four years, according to data published by Dealogic.

Extended Stay is looking to refinance its $2.6 billion, large-loan, hotel CMBS next year, said one source familiar with the deal.

An even wider range of securitizations, including some ABCP and CLOs, are now exempt from a requirement to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

CNH Capital America filed a registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue a $20 million equipment trust asset backed securitization.

Greg Reiter has joined Wells Fargo Securities as managing director and head of Residential Mortgage Research, the bank announced today.

A conduit offering led by JP Morgan and a new single borrower transaction led by Goldman Sachs entered the pipeline late last week, which will bring year to date issuance total to $48bn, according to Standard & Poor’s.