Fitch Eyes 319 CMBS Classes

Fitch Ratings has announced that 319 classes from 75 commercial mortgage-backed securities deals have been placed on Rating Watch Positive, chiefly due to "a flurry of defeasance activity" in the fourth quarter.In addition to the defeasances reported in the January and February remittance reports, many deals have experienced paydowns since the last ratings review, Fitch said. Moreover, the transactions have generally shown improved performance, with decreased delinquency and fewer loans of concern since Fitch's last rating action, the rating agency said.