ABS

Munich Re published a report where it said that insurance-linked securities are back in business.

Both gross and net agency MBS issuance dropped substantially in October to $86.8 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively, compared to $123 billion and $51 billion in September — and September was the lightest levels for both since February of this year.

National Australia Bank (NAB) said in a statement that it has reorganized its debt capital markets business, combining its securitization, syndication loan and agency teams with the capital markets origination team.

London-based TwentyFour Asset Management and real estate investment investment company Rutley Capital Partners have launched a fund that will invest in the CMBS market.

In the short-term, things might be looking up in the housing industry with the news that foreclosure activity is actually down for the third month in a row, according to the October 2009 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report from RealtyTrac.

Market reports have indicated that the launch of a U.K. structured product association could be ready by yearend.

Mission Capital Advisors made two new hires to the firm's New York office. It hired Jordan Ray as director of sales and training and Michael Britvan as an analyst.

Oaktree Capital Management, the private equity arm of Los Angeles-headquartered alternative investment firm Oaktree Capital Group, launched a lending unit to finance residential real estate developments.

Although GMAC exceeded a Nov. 9 deadline for raising as much as $5.6 billion of additional capital, Moody’s Investors Service analysts believe the firm will obtain additional capital from the U.S. Treasury within the next few weeks.

Moody's Investors Service will be launching monthly updated performance indices for all major

This week the American Securitization Forum (ASF) released for comment the proposed ASF Project RESTART RMBS Trustee Bond-Level Reporting Package.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan said that there is a “significant chance” the U.S. housing recovery will not continue.

Digital Risk promoted Alex Santos to president. As the firm's chief operating officer previously, Santos had overall management responsibility, including strategy development, client service, analytics and operations.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this morning said it expects the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA)reserve fund to stay in the black during the housing downturn unless housing falls into what it called a "deeper recession."

Moody’s Investors Service late Wednesday downgraded to 'Ca' from 'Caa2' the insurance financial strength ratings of CIFG Guaranty, CIFG Europe and CIFG Assurance North America.

Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed mortgage rates declined seven basis points to 4.91% with an average 0.7 point for the week ending Nov. 12.

This morning the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) Board unanimously approved an interim final transitional rule extending the FDIC Safe Harbor for securitizations through March 31, 2010.

The Treasury Department is relying on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to oversee servicers participating in the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), but the two GSEs have completed a very low percentage of those modifications on their own loans.

Wilmington Trust hired corporate trust professionals Douglas Lavelle and Thomas Mackay as part of the global expansion of its capital markets services business.

Standard & Poor's continued its downgrades of certain European CMBS and today lowered 11 ratings resulting from the real estate market's credit problems.