Banks' risk managers are growing more concerned about the stability of the student loan market and fear that delinquencies on most types of consumer loans will increase in the coming months, according to a FICO survey.

The European ABS market showed remarkable resiliency in the face of macro and financial institution instability last year and managed to keep the new issues pipeline open even when bank senior unsecured credit and covered bonds shut down.

Capital Markets Cooperative, a secondary market specialist, is continuing to look at possible acquisitions, but is in no rush to sign on the dotted line.

Covered bond spreads remain stable despite the heavy issuance seen so far this year, according to a report from Societe Generale.

The credit outlook for U.S. asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) in 2012 is negative, although the outlook for the credit quality of assets funded by ABCP is neutral to improving, according to a Moody's Investors Service report on the sector.

The Royal Bank of Scotland announced plans to further streamline its operation and have a greater focus on its fixed-income business, which includes securitization, bond trading, debt capital raising, risk management and rates.

More details emerged this week on Redwood Trust's new RMBS deal. The mortgage REIT told ASR last month that it planned to issue its fourth transaction early 1Q12.

Standard & Poor's expects CLO portfolio credit to be stable this year, said the agency's analysts in an emailed report released this morning.

Freddie Mac reported mortgage rates eased to new record lows for all products in its survey for the week ending Jan. 12.

The small size and poor liquidity of lower-rated CMBS tranches have curbed demand for this paper among large buyers, said Ethan Penner, president of CBRE Capital Partners.

Law firm Paul Hastings added a partner to its leveraged finance practice in Europe.