The bigger the better they say - well just look at this mess!

Si, Paris, France

The Carlyle Group is letting it be known that this will leave other segments of their private equity business unaffected. Presumably the spokesman who released that smokescreen was wearing a funny hat, and promptly threw up into a bucket. The entire operation is a zombie, amongst the living dead. Soon we'll all get to read about it. The three owners' combined estimated wealth of $8 billion won't be able to pull this fat from the fire. It's history, guys.

Mike M., boston,

DH, I think it means that UK house prices will fall until they can be bought by a first timer with max 80% mortgage on 2.5x or max 3x salary. In order words a long, long way to fall. Anyone joining the market now is plain foolish.

What i'm not clear on tho, is what happens to all those CCC bundled mortgages, the actual homeowner who's mortgage is now sold on.... what happens to their payments, and do they even know theirs is one which has been sold on ???

Roarke, Wembley, UK

DH oh yes it is, it is called a return to reality. If you have mortgaged yourself up to the hilt on an over-valued property you have been suffering from the all too common mass hysteria that has gripped the nation in a period of irrational exuberance by mortgage lenders.

Keith, Ashford,

I find it staggering that a company can raise only $700million dollars, but then aquire debt of $21 billion, 30 times its cash reserves!!!!. This is plain irresponsible.

Are similar companies like CCC being set up by banks and other financial institutions to get around banking codes?

craig, Harrogate,

Many FTB's don't mind about the deposit, and also don't mind about the falls either.

Austin Tassletine, London, UK

Simon, you may have to shed a larger tear.

The securities in question are a key element of the cheap financing of people's mortgages over the past 5 years. The only result of this will be a restricted availbility of mortgages for the public with much tighter conditions on lending, which is not a good thing for anybody.

It will lead to house prices falling, negative equity, etc. and falling house prices will not help first-time buyers as lenders will require them to put up much, much higher deposits.

None of this turmoil is good news for anybody.

DH, London, UK

The value of your investment can go up as well as down...that's what they tell us when they want our money. Tough luck Wall Street, Fulton Street and your UK cousins. Stick to the knitting. Banks hold money for us. It's more secure than putting it under the mattress. End of story.

Dr Chris Cooper, Peterborough, UK

Excuse me while a shed a small tear

Simon, Leicester,