Feature
Firms find Mifid’s best execution tough to digest
The Financial Services Discussion Club, the mid-tier special interest group involved with the EU's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) , has found that best-execution requirements contained in the Directive are the “biggest piece of work”.
Allianz picks credit valuation provider
Allianz SE has chosen Moody’s KMV to provide credit valuation tools. Products the firm has selected include RiskFrontier, a portfolio-management solution, that will help it to analyse the effect of collateralised debt obligation tranches in its…
CESR examines prospectus directive
The Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR), a group examining the regulation of EU securities industry, has published a review of the Prospectus Directive.
Geithner provides policy advice for Asia
Asia needs to build stronger institutions, in particular central banks that have institutionalised independence from governments, said Timothy Geithner, president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Software company makes Basel programme sharia-compliant
Quadrant, a software company, will extend its Basel II Pillar 1 compliance package to cover sharia.
SunGard extends Margin Advisor product
European and US financial institutions will be able to use SunGard’s Margin Advisor solution for real-time monitoring of cross-asset credit and margin risk. This marks an expansion from its current uses, which are in supporting US Reg T and portfolio…
ECB chief stresses importance of Lamfalussy process
Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), said the Lamfalussy process should be used as much as possible to meet the challenges of increasing regulatory integration.
S&P to calculate bank risk capital
Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is said to be planning to evaluate the risk capital set aside by banks from January 1, 2008.
EU launches public consultation on Credit Institutions Directive
The European Union has announced that it is inviting stakeholders to comment on the Directive on reorganisation and winding-up of credit institutions (2001/24/EC) , with a deadline of September 30. The EU wants to ensure the Directive is completely…
DIB offers sharia-compliant note linked to fund of hedge funds
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has launched a five-year capital protected note issued by Deutsche Bank. The note, linked to the DB-GSAM ALPS Index, tracks the performance of a customised fund of hedge funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
JP Morgan and Deutsche Börse to launch Next-11 index
JP Morgan says it is working with Deutsche Börse to develop an index comprised of equities from seven out of the eleven countries that are generally considered to be the next promising emerging markets. The DAXglobal Next-11 Index will be offered…
Deloitte weighs up FSA's work on principles-based regulation
Deloitte has published a paper assessing the work of the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) to move towards principles-based regulation, in which it argues that while the organisation is committed to change and understands the nature of the challenge…
CESR carries out survey on auditing standards
The Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) is looking afresh at auditing standards. In a new survey, it looks at the direct communication of auditors with the public, in particular shareholders and potential investors, on their statutory…
Non-accruals and delinquency rising on US middle-market loans
Increasing numbers of US construction and real-estate companies are defaulting on middle-market loans.
BNP Paribas launches capital protected fund linked to agricultural index
BNP Paribas has launched a capital protected fund linked to the DCI Agriculture BNP Paribas. The BNP Paribas Agrinvest fund is 100% capital protected at maturity and provides a 130% exposure to the positive performance of the DCI Agriculture BNP Paribas…
Macquarie and Nomura form commodity alliance
Australia's Macquarie Bank and Nomura Securities, a Japanese securities and investment banking company, have agreed to establish a business alliance in commodity derivatives, which will provide commodity derivative and commodity-based investor products…
Philippines assesses policies to improve bank risk management
Philippines discussed Basel II implementation
BIS quarterly report notes market sell-off and rebound
BIS discussed equity, debt market turn-around in report
FSA publishes feedback on private equity paper
FSA identifies main risks in private equity
Man Group and Oxford University team up to launch Quantitative Finance Institute
UK hedge fund Man Group and the University of Oxford have launched the Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance. The Institute will provide research on alternative investments, including structured products.
Arc Capital & Income launches first income product
UK-based distributor Arc Capital & Income, the structured products arm of Arc Fund Management Holdings, has launched its first income product offering a potential annual return of 8.25% a year.
Lehman's Thorkelsson relocates to Asia
Sigurbjorn Thorkelsson, previously head of European equity derivatives and convertibles for Lehman Brothers, is relocating to Asia to head the US investment bank's equity franchise in the region.
ECB president underlines three risks to financial stability
Trichet outlines risks in hedge, LBO and credit risk transfer
India bank governor points out risks to rapid growth in emerging markets
India's Reddy calls attention to risks in emerging markets