WaMu's credit protection costs fall 19 pct-Markit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The cost of protecting Washington Mutual's WM.N debt with credit default swaps fell 19 percent on Monday after the Wall Street Journal reported that private equity firm TPG and others were near a deal to invest $5 billion in the savings and loan.

Five-year debt insurance costs on Washington Mutual fell by about 72 basis points to about 302.5 basis points, or $302,500 a year to protect $10 million of debt, according to data from Markit Intraday. For details see [nN07395553].

(Reporting by Dena Aubin; Editing by James Dalgleish)