ABS experts see drop in issuance this year

PHOENIX - According to some asset-backed securities experts, issuance will be down about 10% in 2006, from record levels seen last year.

Craig Platt, a director at Keybank, anticipates issuance volume will be flat in 2006 compared to the amount seen last year. Despite continued demand both domestically and particularly abroad for U.S. ABS, experts said a decline in the housing market - the sector that has been a key driver of record-breaking issuance growth in the U.S. ABS market - is likely to put a damper on structured finance issuance.