Moody’s Investors Service
Credit spreads widen as equity continues falling
Falling equities and the increased likelihood of conflict in Iraq continued to drive spreads wider in the credit derivatives market this week.
European securitised credit risk transfer set to rise by 15%, says Moody’s
The amount of credit risk transferred in European securitisation deals will increase 15% to €400 billion this year, credit rating agency Moody’s predicted today.
HVB protection surges on downgrade
The cost of senior credit protection for the five-year debt of Germany's HypoVereinsbank (HVB) has surged nearly 30 basis points this week following a two-notch downgrade of its unsecured deposit and debt rating by Moody’s late on Wednesday.
Moody’s to give more weight to operational risk when rating banks
Moody's Investors Service will focus more on operational risks when rating banks, the rating agency said today.
Moody’s to give more weight to operational risk when rating banks
Moody’s Investors Service will focus more on operational risks when rating banks, the rating agency said today.
Japanese synthetic CDO market to see continued growth
Japan’s synthetic collateralised debt obligation (CDO) market is likely to continue to boom in 2003, according to a report published this week by credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service.
Synthetic CDOs lead growth in European securitisation, says Moody’s
Collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) saw the greatest volume of growth in the European structured finance market in 2002, said ratings agency Moody’s in a report today. Last year, issuance rose to €182 billion, an increase of 42% on the total in 2001,…
Asia's ABS market breaks records in 2002
The Asian securitisation market had its most successful year ever in 2002, with cross-border issuance reaching a record $5.56 billion, according to a report by ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service.
Telco bond issues spark flurry of activity in credit markets
The €5.5 billion new bond issue by France Telecom on Wednesday followed by a smaller €500 million issue by Deutsche Telekom, yesterday, sparked a flurry of activity in the European credit markets.
ABS market continues to grow despite volatility, says Moody's
Issuance in the US asset-backed securities (ABS) market reached $400 billion last year, with the market growing on average 26% annually since 1986, according to a new report issued by rating agency Moody’s Investors Services.
Westpac launches CDO of CDOs
Australian bank Westpac has closed a $1.25 billion synthetic collateralised debt obligation (CDO) backed by a pool of structured finance transactions. The deal, arranged by JP Morgan Chase, is thought to be the first such structure issued in Asia-Pacific.
Reflated economy must be Japan’s priority, claims Moody’s
The outlook for Japanese sovereign debt would improve if the Bank of Japan (BoJ) took measures to reflate the economy, according to rating agency Moody's Investors Service. As the BoJ decides on a new governor to replace outgoing Masaru Hayami in March,…
Cadbury’s acquisition causes its credit protection to rise
The cost of credit protection for Cadbury Schweppes widened nearly 20 basis points in trading yesterday. The British confectioner was downgraded following the announcement of its decision to buy Adams, the chewing-gum maker, from US pharmaceutical…
Spreads widen on Munich Re, Aegon, BA Systems and Fiat
Credit default swap spreads widened this week on Munich Re, Aegon, BAE systems and Fiat. But traders said trading was thin and there was very limited movement in other credit spreads in the European market.
Moody’s counters S&P report on UK bank stability
Moody’s today countered claims by rival credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s made yesterday that the UK banking system is vulnerable to financial stress.
Moody’s puts Natexis’ financial strength rating on review for downgrade
Credit rating agency Moody’s has placed the B- financial strength rating of Natexis Banques Populaires on review for possible downgrade, following the French bank’s confirmation late last week that it had made a significant loss at its structured equity…
HVB downgrade forces spreads wider
The cost of five-year senior protection for HypoVereinsbank (HVB) widened by more than 10 basis points to 95/115bp yesterday after rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the German bank. The downgrade, along with another negative report on bank risk…
Credit protection for European telecoms continues to tighten
The cost of credit protection for European telecoms continued to tighten this week, led by France Telecom and boosted by an S&P upgrade for the Netherlands' KPN yesterday. Elsewhere in Europe, spreads remained tight with little movement, including those…
S&P says Basel II helping to improve German banking
FRANKFURT – The proposed Basel II bank safety rules, weak operating performance and shareholder value considerations are behind a trend to more efficient capital allocation, prudent cost control and risk-adjusted pricing in German banking, a leading…
Basel II helping to improve German banking, says S&P
The proposed Basel II bank safety rules, weak operating performance and shareholder value considerations are behind a trend to more efficient capital allocation, prudent cost control and risk-adjusted pricing in German banking, a leading credit rating…
Negative rating actions prompt little movement in credit spreads
The European credit derivatives market remained listless this week, with limited movement in protection cost spreads following a string of negative credit news, traders said. The cost of credit protection for German banks, UK bank Barclays and Spain’s…
Swiss banks low risk but face market saturation, says Moody's
The two-tiered Swiss banking system, split between global giants Credit Suisse Group (CGS) and UBS at one level and smaller regional and private banks at another, continues to exhibit comparatively low risk levels, said Moody’s in a report on Swiss banks…
Credit protection for German financial institutions remains stable
The cost of credit protection for German financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank and insurer Allianz, remained relatively stable today, despite negative rating outlook changes from Moody’s.
Basel II helps German banks focus on risk, says Moody's
A renewed focus on profitability and strategic refocusing among German banks leads Moody's Investors Service to believe that “the country's banks will not undergo a systemic crisis”, the rating agency said in a report on the German banking sector,…