Freddie Mac-No Politics (FMCC)

[pygdogg]

Push for US covered bond market

By Nicole Bullock in New York and David Oakley in London

Published: December 15 2009 19:13 | Last updated: December 15 2009 19:13

US lawmakers and bond market experts argued at a Congressional hearing on Tuesday for the establishment of a covered bond market to boost liquidity in the credit markets and to help to revive mortgage lending.

The push to launch this market in the US takes place as these securities enjoy a renaissance in Europe and securitisation remains broadly stalled in the US. Home lending this year in the US has been almost exclusively mortgages that conform to standards for the government-sponsored entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, now under government conservatorship.