Regulation/Foreign exchange
Lifting the lid on tax havens and bank secrecy
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UAE enforces tighter capital adequacy rules
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New York Fed and Bernanke release TALF Responses
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Volatility puts credit investors on the defensive
Investors are gravitating towards safe haven sectors such as utilities and telecoms as credit fundamentals on non-cyclicals continue to deteriorate
Sting in the tail
Credit spreads on highly rated names have blown out to levels that are proving irresistible to many buy-and-hold investors such as pension funds. But tail risk in the form of increased default expectations is still a major consideration. Blake Evans…
Klaas Knot
One of the architects of the Basel II Accord - and a senior Dutch regulator - defends the framework against criticisms that it was ineffectual in the face of the recent banking turmoil
On the crest of a wave
Corporate bond volumes have been soaring as companies scramble to meet their funding requirements in the wake of the loan market's demise. Simon Boughey looks at whether this wave of issuance is a temporary phenomenon or whether it heralds a permanent…
SEC aims to close the Gaap by prolonging consultation period on accounting rules
The extra 60 days for public comment on the amalgamation of US and international accounting standards does not signify a stalling of the process, says a financial accounting chief
Robert Stheeman
The head of the UK's Debt Management Office, the body responsible for administering the wave of recent government issuance, tells Sarfraz Thind that the recent failed auction doesn't spell a death of demand for gilts
Gary Jenkins: Turner's blank canvas
The FSA's chairman, Lord Turner, has published his much-anticipated recommendations for a shake-up of the regulatory system. Do they go far enough?
Heineken
Our regular look at groundbreaking and innovative deals in the primary markets takes in the £400 million unrated Heineken deal, and BP's monster $3.25 billion offering
FDIC extension gives breathing space to banks
The difficulties banks are facing in borrowing capital are ample justification for extending the TLGP scheme, say observers. Indeed, there are calls for the scheme to become more permanent
Regulators square up to leverage ratio challenge
Bank supervisors are increasingly advocating the introduction of a gross leverage ratio as a restriction on the growth of assets relative to capital, but the biggest challenge will be to create an internationally consistent measure under diverse…
Talf requests plunge $3bn to $1.7bn in latest funding round
Demand for loans under the US Treasury's Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (Talf) has dropped precipitously since the scheme opened in March.
Concerns over political influence overshadow FASB's changes to fair value
US auditors and investors are concerned that accounting standards are being dictated by politicians rather than independent standard setters.
Fed in $287bn currency swap with central banks
Four central banks, including the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE), have agreed further reciprocal foreign currency swap arrangements with the Federal Reserve to provide more US dollar funds to firms in participating nations as…
Russian revolution?
The news that TNK-BP will sell oil products on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange could signal a shift by Russia towards market mechanisms, Roderick Bruce reports
The challenge of complying with remuneration guidelines
Editor's blog
G-20 creates Financial Stability Board from FSF; frees up $1.1 trillion for IMF
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US Wrap: Barclays back with reverse convertibles
Barclays launched 11 reverse convertibles into the US market yesterday, its first significant chunk of issuance of the structure since its bumper day of 22 notes on March 19. The US equity-linked products constituted well over half of the 17 products…