CLO downgrades: CLO market teeters on the brink

Yet more methodology-tweaking by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s last month brought the prospect of downgrades to the triple-A tranches of cash CLOs ever closer to reality. Moody’s actions early in the month resulted in nearly 3,600 tranches rated double-A and below of 760 US and European CLOs now facing downgrades. S&P’s new approach envisages a 1.6 notch downgrade for senior triple-As, a 4.3 notch downgrade for junior triple-As and a 5.8 notch downgrade for triple-Bs.

Yet more methodology-tweaking by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s last month brought the prospect of downgrades to the triple-A tranches of cash CLOs ever closer to reality. Moody’s actions early in the month resulted in nearly 3,600 tranches rated double-A and below of 760 US and European CLOs now facing downgrades. S&P’s new approach envisages a 1.6 notch downgrade for senior triple-As, a 4.3 notch downgrade for junior triple-As and a 5.8 notch downgrade for triple-Bs.

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