Exploiting Japan's renegade repos

Last year's market declines pushed Nikkei forwards to eye-watering levels, wiping out implied dividend yields as repos dived below -100 basis points. Issuers that spotted the imbalance are now pushing structured trades that seek to profit from these disparities. Matt Cameron reports

Towards the end of 2008, the price of forwards (an over-the-counter contract agreed by two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified point in the future) on the Nikkei 225 index began to spike sharply. The prices peaked in January 2009 at what one market participant describes as an "insane level". As Structured Products went to press, these prices were at least closer to established levels. But on October 10, a six-year forward trading at 97.96% (with the price expressed as a percentage of

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Risk.net? View our subscription options

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here