Two new reports from Fitch Ratings, taken together, indicate a modest weakening in the collateral backing U.S. auto ABS deals is continuing, with perhaps a temporary reprieve thanks to short-term cash flow positives for consumers, mostly tax refunds and lower gasoline prices. Still, the overall outlook is positive. U.S. prime auto ABS collateral has been marginally weakening in the last few years, most recently because of amped-up competition among auto finance companies, Fitch said in a report out this week, based on transactions issued between 2007 and fourth-quarter 2014. “The quality of prime auto loan securitized pools was...
The majority of the 9.3 million borrowers who lost their homes between 2006 and 2014 will likely become eligible to re-enter the home purchase market within the next nine years, according to an analysis by the National Association of Realtors. However, only about a quarter of them are expected to actually return to the market. “The extended time needed to repair credit scores or save for a downpayment, combined with other overlapping post-distress factors on credit quality, such as ...