Articles by Robert Mackenzie Smith
US federal legislation ‘eliminates’ need for synthetic Libor
‘Tough legacy’ proposal will be discussed at a House Financial Services subcommittee meeting on April 15
US markets fret over ‘unrepresentative’ fallbacks
Two-year gap between spread fixing and cessation leaves fallback signatories tied to outdated basis
Fed group: SOFR term rate unlikely in 2021
ARRC chair says use case of a forward-looking benchmark would be limited
Dealers warn of trouble ahead as Treasury issuance swells
Repeat of February’s ‘Black Thursday’ likely if Fed ends leverage ratio exemptions, banks say
CME looks to life after Eurodollars, as rivals circle
Eurodollar futures will die with Libor but there is no obvious ready-made replacement
NatWest to quit US dollar Libor panel at year-end
Fifteen banks will continue submitting US dollar Libor quotes until mid-2023
Basis spreads reprice as FCA confirms Libor end-dates
Fallback adjustments for US dollar Libor swaps were not fully priced in by the market
SOFR adoption stalls after US Libor delay
Stay of execution, RFR illiquidity and fallback reliance slow SOFR adoption
BlackRock: fix commercial paper before MMF meddling
Iosco official agrees that CP market needs to be considered alongside MMF reform
Funds steering clear of bets on Libor timeline after losses
Despite FCA assurances, most actively traded swap bases have not yet widened back to November levels
Optiver becomes first non-bank options market-maker on FXall
Dutch e-trading firm joins OTC FX options platform in a market taking electronic baby steps
Bloomberg, IHS Markit join race for SOFR credit add-on
BSBY index seen as ‘easy option’ add-on for regulator-preferred RFR; Markit preps for Q2 launch
Brexit drives swaps trading to US platforms
Lack of equivalence forces dealers to shift euro and sterling swaps out of European and UK venues
Fed and FCA see path to synthetic dollar Libor
Reprieve for popular dollar settings could buy time for UK-style tough legacy fix
How hedge funds lost big on US dollar Libor delay
Sharp narrowing of fallback spreads may have caused up to $2 billion of losses
Dollar Libor reprieve sparks fallback uncertainty
Popular settings to end in June 2023; market seeks clarity over timing of fallback spread triggers
US banks cede to SOFR lending as credit hopes fade
Critics of risk-free rate say dynamic spread will be too late for transition
Quarles’ legacy Libor contracts plan stirs confusion
Cryptic comment feeds speculation about synthetic US dollar Libor – prompting pushback from ARRC
The buy side and Libor: it’s decision time
Investors weigh pros and cons of signing newly released Isda fallback protocol, as Libor demise looms
Congress readies surprise ‘tough legacy’ Libor fix
Federal legislation to ensure legacy Libor contracts can move to SOFR is in the works
Big moves, but no panic after tumultuous US election
Treasury market saw its largest post-election move since at least 2000 – but liquidity held up
Bailed-out basis traders face regulatory backlash
The cash/futures basis trade could be a test case for regulating systemically risky activities
CME asks clients about changing implied UST futures coupon
Falling yields prompt review of 6% conversion factor for delivery-eligible bonds
Citi promotes Perkins and Wilson to top clearing post
US bank creates clearing co-head role in wake of Kemp’s retirement