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Will Government's Promotion of Covered Bonds as Mortgage Funding Mechanisms Bring Back Investors to US Mortgage Market?

July 30, 2008

Analysis by:Maureen Bolton, Principal,

Analysis of:Treasury and Banks Kick Start Home Financing Tool | www.reuters.com

This article is important because it announces and describes: a) the US Treasury's support of covered bonds, an on-balance sheet method of funding mortgage originations, as an alternative to off-balance sheet mortgage securitizations or mbs b) Four major US banks announcements of their intentions to bring covered bond issues to market in the near future and and their commitment to provide pricing information in order to facilitate the trading of covered bonds and c) the FDIC's support of a covered bond market and its policy statement describing how it would treat covered bond investors in the event that an issuing bank become insolvent. The government and market participant actions described in the article are remarkable because they appear to contemplate an on-going involvement of the US Treasury and FDIC in the funding of mortgages that is more hands-on than any such actions to date, creating a defacto US govt gtd covered bond market.

Like any proud shopper, Temasek is happy to have recognised a bargain in Merrill

January 7, 2008

Analysis by:Maureen Bolton, Principal,

Analysis of:Temasek Supports Merrill Despite Sub-Prime Losses | www.bankingtimes.co.uk

This article summarises Temasek's recent equity investment in Merrill, including the price paid and future intentions.  Temasek appears to be more than satisfied with its investment and is inclined toward similar investments (financial institutions undervalued due to over-estimates of subprime/CDO related losses) in the near future.

Liquidity Sponge Could Be Full After Last Week's Leveraged Loan Sales

October 15, 2007

Analysis by:Maureen Bolton, Principal,

Analysis of:Debt on Sale: Banks Grease | online.wsj.com

This article is important because it reveals the current efforts of banks to sell off leveraged loans and contrasts such efforts with past sales.  The fact that banks are offering price guarantees and discounts to buyers of loans related to buyouts of recession-proof companies is an indication that getting rid of the enormous, committed leveraged loan pipeline will be much more difficult than anticipated. In addition to detailing the type of terms the banks were offering sellers, the article also contains a terrific illustration of the  current road show environment  -still crowded- and attendees -KKR attended and bought loans related to its very own deal-resulting in the borrower merging with the lender. 

Once Again, UBS Gets Hurt By Following the Herd

October 4, 2007

Analysis by:Maureen Bolton, Principal,

Analysis of:UBS falls victim to credit squeeze | www.ft.com

This article is important not only because it announces a US$1.3 billion write-down of UBS' fixed income portfolio, but because it parallels the situation with that of Bear Stearns' (huge write-downs followed by the "departure" of a key executive) and questions whether there are more of such "disclosures" in the coming week as Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and others announce their third quarter earnings.

Will China's rich enrich Morgan Stanley

September 25, 2007

Analysis by:Maureen Bolton, Principal,

Analysis of:Morgan Stanley to buy stake in China's Jutian Fund | www.reuters.com

This article announcing Morgan Stanley's plans to invest in Jutian Fund Management is important because it reveals another component of Morgan Stanley's investment strategy.   It also indicates that wealthy Chinese may be a more lucrative target for foreign investors, as opposed to the potential billion retail accounts.

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