Merrill Subprime MBS Class Downgraded

Class B5 of Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust series 2005-HE1 has been downgraded from BB to B-plus and removed from Rating Watch Negative by Fitch Ratings.In addition, class B4 was removed from Rating Watch Negative, and the ratings on 16 classes from two MLMI transactions were affirmed. The downgrade was based on a deterioration in the relationship between credit enhancement and loss expectations, Fitch said. The rating agency said the transactions are backed by fixed- and adjustable-rate, first- and second-lien subprime residential mortgages.