Fears of subprime fallout escalate
By Ben White and Michael Mackenzie
FT.com, 01:50 GMT Mar 13, 2007
Trading was halted in New Century Financial on Monday with the second-largest US subprime lender teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, sparking fresh fears about whether turmoil in the sector could spread and damp US economic growth.
The halt, ordered by the New York Stock Exchange, came after New Century said its banks had either cut off credit or signalled their intention to do so, increasing the likelihood of an imminent bankruptcy filing or asset liquidation.
The rapid decline of New Century, the latest problem at US subprime lenders, raised concerns that problems could spread in the $8,000bn mortgage industry and to other parts of the capital markets.
Reaction in the markets was muted. US government bonds rallied as investors shifted cash into the safety of Treasuries. Stocks edged slightly higher, though shares in other subprime lenders continued to fall.
Shares in Countrywide Financial, the fourth-largest US subprime lender, fell almost 3 per cent to $35.14 after the company said foreclosures hit a five-year high of 0.70 per cent in February and that turmoil in the subprime market could hurt earnings. Market participants were also braced for the possibility that if New Century collapsed it could lead to broad investigations into practices across the subprime lending market.
Some economists also fear that the collapse in subprime loans could trigger wider house price falls. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, New Century said lenders including Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley had issued letters saying the company was in default.
New Century also said its bankers had demanded that it accelerate its obligation to buy back outstanding mortgage loans financed under the lending arrangements.
New Century said if its bankers demanded accelerated repurchase of all outstanding mortgages, it would cost the company $8.4bn, which it does not have. That could lead the lenders to force a liquidation of New Century's mortgage portfolio. New Century said such a liquidation might not generate enough capital to meet the banks' demands.
[Wenn die "Abwicklung" von New Century nicht genug Geld einbringt, bleiben die "Normalo-Banken" auf den nicht eintreibbaren Hypo-Schulden sitzen - A.L.]
Disclosure of the default letters on Monday came after Morgan Stanley last week agreed to extend $265m in fresh financing to New Century and take over a $710m credit facility from Citigroup.
In its disclosure, New Century said it had a $2.5bn repurchase obligation to Morgan Stanley. The company added that one of its lenders has said it "may be willing to continue providing limited financing under its existing agreements" but that such financing might be eliminated at any time.
By Ben White and Michael Mackenzie
FT.com, 01:50 GMT Mar 13, 2007
Trading was halted in New Century Financial on Monday with the second-largest US subprime lender teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, sparking fresh fears about whether turmoil in the sector could spread and damp US economic growth.
The halt, ordered by the New York Stock Exchange, came after New Century said its banks had either cut off credit or signalled their intention to do so, increasing the likelihood of an imminent bankruptcy filing or asset liquidation.
The rapid decline of New Century, the latest problem at US subprime lenders, raised concerns that problems could spread in the $8,000bn mortgage industry and to other parts of the capital markets.
Reaction in the markets was muted. US government bonds rallied as investors shifted cash into the safety of Treasuries. Stocks edged slightly higher, though shares in other subprime lenders continued to fall.
Shares in Countrywide Financial, the fourth-largest US subprime lender, fell almost 3 per cent to $35.14 after the company said foreclosures hit a five-year high of 0.70 per cent in February and that turmoil in the subprime market could hurt earnings. Market participants were also braced for the possibility that if New Century collapsed it could lead to broad investigations into practices across the subprime lending market.
Some economists also fear that the collapse in subprime loans could trigger wider house price falls. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, New Century said lenders including Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley had issued letters saying the company was in default.
New Century also said its bankers had demanded that it accelerate its obligation to buy back outstanding mortgage loans financed under the lending arrangements.
New Century said if its bankers demanded accelerated repurchase of all outstanding mortgages, it would cost the company $8.4bn, which it does not have. That could lead the lenders to force a liquidation of New Century's mortgage portfolio. New Century said such a liquidation might not generate enough capital to meet the banks' demands.
[Wenn die "Abwicklung" von New Century nicht genug Geld einbringt, bleiben die "Normalo-Banken" auf den nicht eintreibbaren Hypo-Schulden sitzen - A.L.]
Disclosure of the default letters on Monday came after Morgan Stanley last week agreed to extend $265m in fresh financing to New Century and take over a $710m credit facility from Citigroup.
In its disclosure, New Century said it had a $2.5bn repurchase obligation to Morgan Stanley. The company added that one of its lenders has said it "may be willing to continue providing limited financing under its existing agreements" but that such financing might be eliminated at any time.
