Sub-prime car loans riskier than ratings: Moody's and Fitch

New York

THE booming market for securities backed by sub-prime car loans is riskier than their ratings imply, say two of the biggest assessors of bond credit quality.

Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings analysts said in interviews that the grades their competitors have assigned to a crop of new issuers - most of which are backed by private-equity firms - are too high. The lenders lack a track record in the bond market proving their underwriting acumen and ability to handle the specialised task of collecting on soured debt during a downturn, according to the analysts.

Half the issuers tracked by Standard & Poor's hadn't sold bonds before 2010, and concern is mounting that growth in the market for securities backed by car loans to people with poor credit poses a risk to the whole auto industry. Wall Stre…