Moody’s increased its ratings of newly issued ABS by 36% during the first quarter, a period when total rated issuance was up 8%. Kroll remained the top rating service in non-agency MBS. (Includes two data charts.)

Moody’s proposed establishing ESG “issuer profile scores” and “credit impact scores” for structured finance transactions rated by the firm. DBRS, too, has released its approach to ESG risk factors in credit ratings.

Non-agency MBS with mortgages originated by CDFIs faces scrutiny from rating services; The Change Company pushes back; MBS and ABS investor preferences on credit scoring models.