Moody's Investors Service says that despite the problems afflicting the two US government sponsored mortgage finance enterprises, Asian banks generally face little risk from their holdings of securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
"While some regional banks and insurers hold substantial amounts of paper issued or guaranteed by either of the two institutions, the risk of interim mark-to-market income statement losses is low and of actual principal or interest payment loss miniscule," says Deborah Schuler, a Moody's Senior Vice President.
"In addition, possible foreign exchange-driven losses, given the decline in the US dollar and the fact that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are USD-denominated, are mitigated by offsetting exposures at the banks," adds Schuler.
Schuler made her remarks in conjunction with the release of a special comment she has authored on the risk posed by the problems afflicting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Asian banks and insurers.
"Moreover, Asian banks and insurance companies are both liquid (except for Australian & Korean banks) and well capitalized enough to hold any loss-making investment securities that they wish to maturity," says Schuler. "In general, we believe that market-to-market losses stemming from securities issued by these two government sponsored enterprises will be limited and temporary."
Furthermore, the risk of default is miniscule, in line with the Aaa ratings on Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's senior unsecured debt and guaranteed mortgage backed securities, says Schuler in her just-released Moody's report.
"Such ratings reflect Moody's expectation that these US government-sponsored enterprises will receive Federal support, if needed and as they have always done. Indeed, actions by the Fed and Treasury over the past weekend, along with statements by President Bush, corroborate the strength of that support," says the report.
The report --Fannie and Freddie Threat to Asian Banks and Insurers Exaggerated -- can be found at www. Moodys.com
Singapore
Deborah Schuler
Senior Vice President
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Singapore Pte Ltd.
JOURNALISTS: (852) 2916-1150
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Tokyo
Mutsuo Suzuki
Senior Vice President - Regional Credit Officer
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Japan K.K.
JOURNALISTS: (03) 5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: (03) 5408-4100