ABS

Moody’s Investors Service yesterday downgraded to 'Aa3' from 'Aaa' the insurance financial strength ratings of Ambac Assurance Corp., Ambac Assurance U.K. and the debt ratings of Ambac Financial Group and related financing trusts. The rating actions come after a review for possible downgrade that was initiated by the agency on June 4.

Malcolm Knight, the general manager and chief executive officer of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), said today that he's leaving the BIS at the end of September.

Many Street analysts are talking about the transactions that Ocwen Loan Servicing serviced that reported interest shortfalls seen in some of the senior classes. These were revealed by the May remittance reports.

Washington Mutual (WaMu) said yesterday that it has decided to eliminate the negative amortizing mortgage and WaMu Mortgage Plus loan options, according to published reports.

Risk Management Solutions (RMS) launched a new portfolio management platform today called Miu. The new platform supports the trading of insurance risk using RMS’ leading catastrophe risk analytics.

Fremont General has filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in a follow-up to regulatory approvals for CapitalSource to buy certain assets and liabilities of Fremont Investment & Loan (FIL), according to a company release.

Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich (RZB) closed its €318 million ($492 million) securitization of Italian leases.

Fitch Solutions has launched a new platform called Fitch Risk and Performance Platform. This new platform will provide market-based credit risk analytics, credit default swap pricing and fundamental ratings content, according a release from teh rating agency.

Ambac Financial Group today said it has terminated its relationship with Fitch Ratings after deciding that it no longer had a need for the rating of the market’s smallest credit rating agency.

A survey of recruiters shows lower pay is in store for new hires on Wall Street.

Societe Generale Asset Management (SGAM) appointed Olivier Lecler as CEO of its subsidiary, SGAM Alternative Investments, effective from June 1.

Gatehouse Bankhas has bolstered its sales team with the appointment of Mourad Mekhail as managing director of institutional wealth management. Mourad will be reporting directly into Ewa Gracey, head of distribution.

Morgan Joseph & Co., the New York investment bank, has launched a structured products group, naming Darren Wolberg and Dale Hoffman to serve as co-heads and managing directors of the new analytics and trading unit.

BlackRock has named Curtis Arledge managing director and co-head of U.S. fixed income, within the fixed-income management portfolio group.

Wilmington Finance will cease wholesale mortgage banking originations effective immediately, according to a release from the firm.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision issued for public comment enhanced global principles for sound liquidity risk management and supervision.

Babson Capital Management has chosen Robert Little to head its real estate finance group (REFG) at the end of 2008, where he will assume oversight of a $22 billion portfolio.

M&T Bank Corp. is suing Deutsche Bank AG for $82 million, saying the Frankfurt company's securities unit sold CDOs that proved an unsound investment.

Thomas Neary has been named executive vice president and senior managing director of capital markets for Residential Capital (ResCap), Minneapolis.

American International Group (AIG) has replaced chief executive Martin Sullivan with its chairman, Robert Willumstad, who was formerly president and chief operating officer of Citigroup.