Fitch Ratings could put 20 commercial mortgage securitizations under review for a possible downgrade if Congress fails to renew government-sponsored terrorism reinsurance.

Consumer Portfolio Services has closed on its fourth securitization of subprime auto loans of the year.

European banks have begun re-marketing securitizations that they had retained as collateral for central bank funding, and this is expected to accelerate in 2015.

J.P. Morgan Securities is arranging a $352.7-million RMBS securitizing 677 prime pre-crisis mortgages originated by Merrill Lynch Credit Corp., according to a pre-sale report by Fitch Ratings.

Lorillard’s pending acquisition of Reynolds American shrinks the universe of original participating manufactures in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement to 2 from 3; but not the payments made to tobacco bonds.

Cantor Fitzgerald hired Gary Wang and Karl Partch as managing directors in whole loan sales and trading.

Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) subsidiary Chesterfield Financial Holdings has closed a $300-million transaction backed by a “closed block” of life insurance policies, RGA said in a press release.

U.S. collateralized loan obligations have relatively low exposure to oil and gas, according to Standard & Poor's.

Credit Suisse teamed up with JP Morgan and Barclays to sell $1.4 billion of securities backed by 69 commercial mortgage loans that are secured by 94 properties.

Freddie Mac has purchased additional reinsurance for the mortgages that it guarantees via its Agency Credit Insurance Structures (ACIS) program

The Russian ruble is in freefall — it’s down more than 50% since January — and interest rates are climbing on the back of the Bank of Russia’s aggressive efforts to shore up the embattled currency.