by Calculated Risk on 2/25/2008 02:41:00 PM

From Standard & Poor's: S&P Takes Additional Bond Insurer Rtg Actions (no link)

NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) Feb. 25, 2008-Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today took rating actions on several monoline bond insurers following additional stress tests with respect to their domestic nonprime mortgage exposure.

The financial strength ratings on XL Capital Assurance Inc. (XLCA) and XL Financial Assurance Ltd. (XLFA) were lowered to 'A-' from 'AAA' and remain on CreditWatch with negative implications;

The financial strength rating on Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. (FGIC) was lowered to 'A' from 'AA' and remains on CreditWatch with developing implications;

The 'AAA' financial strength rating on MBIA Insurance Corp. was removed from CreditWatch and a negative outlook was assigned;

The 'AAA' financial strength rating on Ambac Assurance Corp. was affirmed and remains on CreditWatch with negative implications; and

The 'AAA' financial strength ratings on CIFG Guaranty, CIFG Europe, and CIFG Assurance North America Inc. were affirmed and retain a negative outlook.

The downgrades on XLCA, XLFA, XL Capital Assurance (UK) Ltd., and Twin Reefs Pass-Through Trust (a committed capital facility supported by, and for the benefit of, XLFA) reflect our assessment that the company's evolving capital
plan has meaningful execution and timing risk.

The downgrades on FGIC, FGIC Corp., and Grand Central Capital Trusts I-VI (a committed capital facility supported by, and for the benefit of, FGIC) reflect
our current assessment of potential losses, which is higher than previous estimates.

The removal from CreditWatch of, and assignment of negative outlooks on, MBIA Insurance Corp., MBIA Inc., and North Castle Custodial Trusts I-VIII (a committed capital facility supported by, and for the benefit of, MBIA) reflect MBIA's success in accessing $2.6 billion of additional claims-paying resources, which, in our view, is a strong statement of management's ability to address the concerns relating to the capital adequacy of the company.
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