ABS

Moody’s Investors Service is putting its concerns of operational risks into practice as it reviews for possible downgrade notes issued by Four Seas, a Belgian diamond inventory securitization.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) wants to stay away from traditional risk-based pricing for mortgage insurance premiums, saying it doesn't want the government to compete against private sector MI firms.

A suit that left CMBS affiliated with the bankrupt General Growth Properties exposed to potential losses and highlighted the limits of securitizations' "bankruptcy remote" nature is close to finalizing a settlement that would alleviate the loss concern, according to Fitch Ratings.

Global Hunter Securities added a new managing director and opened an office in Los Angeles, the banking and securities services firm said Tuesday.

Global advisory firm Hodes Weill & Associates hired Ray Potter as a principal to focus on the firm’s property underwriting, due diligence and principal investment activities.

The House Financial Services Committee approved 31 to 27 on Wednesday a bill that would give the Federal Reserve Board the power to oversee systemically important firms, and allow the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) the ability to resolve them if they fail.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is going on the record, asking for an increase in mortgage insurance premiums to replenish its diminishing capital reserves while hiking FICO scores for applicants.

Darrell Wheeler will direct Amherst Securities Group's efforts to break into the CMBS sector, and has been named senior managing director and head of CMBS strategy at the firm.

DBRS assigned triple-A ratings GMAC U.K.’s first public securitization of whole sale receivables called Wholesale Auto Receivables Funding (WARF).

Investment research provider Morningstar started publishing credit ratings for about 100 of the largest U.S. companies.

The Treasury Department yesterday gave guidance to servicers on the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA).

Assured Guaranty said it plans to free up about $1 billion in capital over the next three to five years as it winds down a structured finance portfolio.

The National Association of Realtors' (NAR) pending home sales index (PHSI) rose 3.7% in October and posted its ninth consecutive monthly gain.

Clayton Holdings said it supports a new universal loan identification code, known as ASF LINC, which was jointly developed by the American Securitization Forum (ASF) and Standard & Poor's Fixed Income Risk Management Services (FIRMS).

State Street has signed an agreement to acquire Mourant International Finance Administration for an undisclosed amount of cash.

The U.K. Treasury announced proposals to extend the Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulation to buy-to-let, second charge mortgages as well as unregulated third parties that have bought mortgages.

Recent prepayment data has highlighted the more aggressive buyout activity in FNMAs relative to FHMLC Golds.

Lend America, the embattled Long Island-based Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lender, said it has halted all loan production, a move that comes less than 24 hours after the government ordered the nonbank to cease underwriting and funding government-backed products.

The Treasury Department's latest attempt to encourage servicers to modify more loans is unlikely to work because it does not address key underlying problems, sources said.

The Committee of European Securities Regulators' (CESR) recent consultation on proposals for pan-European definitions of money market funds (MMFs) paves the way towards a convergence of pan-European standards, Fitch Ratings said.