For some purposes (e.g., valuation of mortgage backed securities), this can be a big simplification.

They are not mortgage backed securities, nor are they originated by a third party mortgage company.

They had thought their money had been safe in gilts (government backed securities).

Access to this information should allow market actors to make more informed assessments of asset backed securities.

Often a separate institution, called a special purpose vehicle, is created to handle the securitization of asset backed securities.

It focuses on the areas of multi-strategy, convertibles, asset backed securities, credit, loans and equities.

Countrywide could then make more money off the loans by selling them on secondary markets as mortgage backed securities.

The Fed accepted about $17.2 billion in repurchase agreements for mortgage backed securities to aid in liquidity.

The purpose of the indices is to allow investors to trade exposures to the subprime market without holding the actual asset backed securities.

The central bank may buy long-term government bonds, company bonds, asset backed securities, stocks, or even extend commercial loans.