NEW YORK -

Fitch Ratings recently released a new study that showed repo collateral value and recovery potential are on the rise.

In the report titled, “Repo Emerges from the Shadow,” analysts indicated that based on a sample of the repo exposures of the 10 largest U.S. prime money market funds, they found several trends in repo collateral, haircuts and counterparties dating back to year-end 2006.

Fitch shared a few examples:

—Repos backed by structured finance — after virtually disappearing during the height of the U.S. credit crisis — are re-emerging and as of end the August represent 20 percent of all repo collateral in the study.

—Much of this structured finance collateral is deeply-discounted (median value of 43 percent of principal), and half is in the form of Alt-A and subprime residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations.

—Repo haircuts, after peaking during the crisis and its aftermath, have recently receded, a possible sign of thawing credit conditions.

The complete Fitch study can be found here.