News/Foreign exchange
Goldman signs up to Cognotec's Liquidity Linq
US investment bank Goldman Sachs will use foreign exchange e-commerce services provider Cognotec's Liquidity Linq Connect to offer foreign exchange pricing and execution services to firms currently signed up to Cognotec's foreign exchange dealing…
Cat bond activity set for ‘dramatic’ rise, claims Stonberg
The large pay-out expected by the reinsurance industry following the terrorist attacks of September 11, combined with a recent trend towards more capitalised investment banking firms, could stimulate a “dramatic increase” in the growth of the catastrophe…
Lehman to move main New York ops into one office
Lehman Brothers plans to move its entire New York operation into Morgan Stanley's new office tower at 745 Seventh Avenue as early as January 2002, officials at Lehman have told RiskNews’ sister publication FX Week (www.fxweek.com).
Decline in OTC derivatives for Singapore
Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives turnover in Singapore has fallen 44% in the last three years, the Singapore Monetary Authority (MAS) has reported to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Average daily OTC derivatives turnover was $6.3 billion…
Euronext uncorks wine futures
The combined Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam bourse, Euronext, has started trading its wine futures contract, Winefex, after its launch date was postponed due to the September 11 terrorists attacks in the US. The publicly quoted exchange said it is trading…
S&P moves to rate hedge fund of funds
International rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has started to develop ratings criteria for securitisations of hedge fund of funds, due to growing interest in the past year from structured finance teams at investment banks.
Asia credit set to recover, claims ING Barings
Asian credit is set to recover by the end of the year, as domestic investors regain confidence and return to the region, according to ING Barings’ analysts, speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong today. Asian credit spreads have widened sharply in…
Canada’s Royal Bank signs up to Algo Credit Evaluator
RBC Dominion Securities (RBC DS) has joined Bank One in conducting beta tests of Algorithmics' Algo Credit Evaluator (ACV), a credit evaluation tool developed by the Toronto-based risk analytics vendor.
Moody's forms Basel II advisory group
Moody’s Risk Management Services (MRMS) has formed a 'BIS II implementation advisory group' that will help clients establish internal credit rating approaches in line with changes to capital requirements for banks, proposed by the Basel Committee on…
Donation fuels Cambridge’s research ambitions
William Janeway, vice-chairman at Warburg Pincus, a leading New York private equity firm, has donated $10 million to the University of Cambridge’s Judge Institute business school. The money will fund research into the links between the risk management…
The shifting sands of Basel II
Four months after the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision closed the consultation period on its January 2001 draft for a new international capital Accord, it has already made major amendments to its proposal.
Basel II regulators lighten Pillar 3 disclosure burden
Global banking regulators said they are significantly reducing the amount of information they will require from banks under a key provision of the proposed Basel II banking accord.
Basel cuts op risk charge benchmark to 12%
Global banking regulators will base their proposed capital charge for operational risk on a 12% benchmark, down from the controversial 20% originally proposed.
GFInet launches new credit derivatives service
GFInet, the online interdealer broking service of GFI, has launched a Credit Default Swap Mark-to-Market (MTM) service today. The product will enable GFI, one of the largest brokers in the credit derivatives market, to make its comprehensive market price…
Basel scraps 'w' charge from pillar 1
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has reacted to strong industry criticism of its controversial 'w' charge by scrapping it from pillar 1, regulatory capital, of its proposed new regulatory capital requirements – Basel II. It will now be included…
Front launches new patnership programme
Trading and risk management technology provider Front Capital Systems has launched a new project to better deploy and implement risk management software in financial institutions.
UK corporates taking more risks
UK companies are adopting a more risk-taking stance in making their business decisions, and perceive risk management as a beneficial tool to gain competitive advantage, according to a survey by professional services company Deloitte & Touche.
Basel regulators put op risk charge below 15%
Global banking regulators will cut to below 15% from 20% the benchmark figure on which they intend basing the controversial operational risk capital charge they propose for large international banks from 2005.
Rolfe & Nolan removes Lodge as CEO
UK derivatives systems vendor Rolfe & Nolan has ousted its chief executive officer, John Lodge, as part of an effort to boost confidence among its customers and shareholders. The company, which has seen its share price plunge over the past two years,…
Rating agencies to keep an eye on the banking sector
The world’s three key rating agencies have released statements about the possible repercussions on the banking sector of last week’s tragic attacks in New York. Moody’s said it is not contemplating any immediate rating downgrades for European banks…
Isda moves to stabilise derivatives markets
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has issued guidelines to help traders close outstanding equity derivatives positions following the major disruptions to financial markets caused by last week’s terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Fed arranges swap deals to smooth liquidity
The US Federal Reserve has agreed temporary swap arrangements with the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada designed to help international banks meet any shortfall of dollars needed to settle market positions created by…
Equity derivatives markets brace for US opening
The equity options markets were rudderless this week, with the lack of implied volatilities for the US market – used for marking and pricing options – effectively grinding options trading to a halt.
S&P affirms ‘AAA’ ratings on US clearings
The US's central securities depository, the Depository Trust Company (DTC), and three clearing bodies, the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) and the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation (BOTCC), have…