Feature
Net results
A master agreement for over-the-counter Islamic derivatives is in the final review stages and could be published in 2009. After years of debate, the difficult issue of close-out netting appears to be close to resolution. By Alastair Marsh
Conflict's end
The second phase of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association's collateral dispute resolution protocol prescribes a market polling mechanism for settling disputes involving illiquid and complex transactions. How will the market poll work and…
Capital changes
Financial supervisors have reaffirmed the importance of common equity and disclosed reserves in Tier I capital. But the direction of discussions on hybrids in Tier I and the relative importance of Tier II is causing concerns in Asia. Harry Thompson…
Open for hedges
India’s insurance sector has long been hamstrung by its inability to use equity derivatives. This is about to change with the country’s insurance regulator set to relax the rules on derivatives. But are India’s insurers ready for synthetic instruments?…
Realising operational efficiency
Energy trading companies face special challenges in running automated and efficient operations due to the rapid rate of change endemic to markets. David Foti presents principles that can drive efficiency
Bright futures
Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange (HKMEx) aims to become Asia’s leading commodity exchange. Roderick Bruce discusses the new venture with HKMEx president Albert Helmig, a 35-year commodity market veteran.
The chemistry of compensation
Regulators across the world are clamping down on executive compensation in a bid to align employee remuneration with sound risk management principles. Despite the good intentions, many of the proposals could have unintended consequences. Peter Madigan…
Best in India - Standard Chartered Bank
India's structured products market is still in its infancy, and has been as vulnerable to the fallout from losses on Lehman Brothers Minibonds as most other markets in Asia. Despite these drawbacks, Standard Chartered Bank has stood firm, ramping up…
Best in Hong Kong - HSBC
In a year that saw hundreds of investors take to the streets to protest about the mis-selling of Lehman Brothers-linked notes, HSBC managed to sidestep the controversy and continue issuing a full range of structured product