JAPAN'S ASSET BACKED SECURITIES ISSUES SURGE IN H1.

(From Asia Pulse)

TOKYO, Oct 2 Asia Pulse - The total amount of asset-backed securities (ABS) issued domestically in the fiscal first half is believed to have surpassed that of straight bonds during the same period.

ABS issuance is estimated to have increased 35 per cent on the year to an average of 2.37 trillion yen (US$18.1 billion), according to data compiled separately by Deutsche Securities Ltd., Mizuho Securities Co., Mitsubishi Securities Co. (TSE:8615) and Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co. In contrast, straight-bond issuance between April and September is expected to have totaled slightly more than 2 trillion yen.

A major factor behind the …