TALF to extend for commercial securities

The Fed announced today that it would extend the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, or TALF program — an initiative meant to boost the struggling commercial real estate market — through mid-2010. The TALF program for newly issued commercial mortgage-backed securities will extend through June 30, past its original deadline of December 31, 2009. TALF programming for newly issued securities backed by auto, credit card, student and small business loans will continue through March 31. Fed officials said that the TALF would not extend for residential mortgage-backed securities, but that they would remain flexible on the issue pending market changes.