Feature
Liquidity mismatch in funds of hedge funds
One aspect of the liquidity crisis which was entirely predictable was the problems at the fund of hedge fund (FoHF) level, says Patrick Fenal, CEO of Geneva-based Unigestion.
Liquidity goes down the drain
Liquidity: investors want it and funds need to provide it. But what this actually means in practice covers a multiplicity of meanings and motivations. Hedge Funds Review finds out what mistakes were made in 2008 and how these can be avoided in future.
Changing times for diverse family
A family that began in the early 1900s faced moving into the new century with an expanded and diverse family where the present generation needed to take control and start planning for the next.
Commodity ETPs: limited viability?
Commodity exchange-traded products face an uncertain future unless they can adapt to regulations seeking to impose strict limits on firms’ commodities positions, while fighting competition from products designed to circumvent the new rules entirely…
A bridge too far?
As exchange-traded funds become increasingly complex and start to resemble structured products, are product providers stretching the limits too far in terms of what should constitute an ETF? By John Ferry
Rays of hope
The turbulent conditions that have characterised the past two years have taken their toll on the Australian structured products market. But lessons regarding diversification and capital protection could offer a chink of light to investors. Wietske Blees…
Avoiding dividend meltdown
Dealers are starting to pay closer attention to dividend risk housed on their exotic books after many incurred sizeable losses last year. What are banks doing differently and can another dividend meltdown be avoided? Matt Cameron reports
Seeking green shoots
Issuance and risk appetite appear to be increasing in the US market. But is this just froth or does it represent a genuine step towards recovery? Sophia Morrell assesses how confident institutional and retail clients are feeling
The return of risk
In the tussle between fear and greed, greed is easing back into the driving seat. So said Alan Kerr, managing director of Harbourmaster Capital and chairman of the Structured Products Ireland conference, held on September 15 in Dublin. Transparency,…
A ripening market
Market dynamics and the chequered history of structured investments in South Africa have recently favoured vanilla products featuring capital protection. But some local issuers are gaining traction with more sophisticated offerings. John Ferry reports
Less complexity for pricing analytics
A number of software suppliers sprang up in the early part of the decade offering pricing and analytics software for ever more complex derivatives structures. In the new age of less complexity, how are these firms adapting? By Clive Davidson
Stung by BEE
Black economic empowerment has been a big source of profits for South African banks in recent years. But market turmoil means many deals are underwater, and some market participants have likened the situation to the US subprime mortgage crisis. Mark…
Eurex cuts no Ice
The July 31 deadline for central clearing of credit default swaps in Europe was successfully met by dealers and clearing platforms. Both Eurex and IntercontinentalExchange have launched clearing services in Europe, but take-up for Eurex’s has so far been…
Credit pricing principles
In the wake of the financial crisis, some dealers acknowledged they were lax in pricing credit into derivatives trades, and pledged to be more attentive in future. With confidence now returning to the market, will competitive pressures overrule these…
The Thomson test
A restructuring of debt by Paris-based media and electronics firm Thomson has provided an early test for the small bang protocol. The initial stages of the settlement process highlighted a number of outstanding issues, not least the treatment of index…
Trouble brewing
Despite early signs the US recession may be over, the short-term future for many of the country’s small and medium-sized banks looks grim as they struggle to deal with mounting losses on whole loan portfolios. By Rob Davies
Fixed returns?
Banks have reported huge profits this year in fixed income, with swaps desks benefiting from flows off the back of sovereign and corporate debt issuance. Exotic desks, in contrast, have seen a substantial decline in investor interest. Peter Madigan…
A matter of trust
More than a year on from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, administrators are still trawling through the estate of Lehman Brothers International (Europe). A scheme of arrangement designed to speed up the return of trust assets to clients failed to win…
The liquidity lifeline
The Basel Committee intends to introduce internationally binding liquidity standards, to include both a requirement for a liquid assets buffer and longer-term structural funding constraints. How will the measures be calculated and what will the…
