Feature
The German deficit dilemma
German municipalities are turning to the derivatives market to manage the interest rate risks on their massive deficits. Will these instruments relieve their problems or add to them? Rachel Wolcott investigates
Profiting from ups and downs
Volatility
Handelsbanken Capital Markets lists certifcates on NDX
Handelsbanken Capital Markets today listed two index certificates providing exposure to oil and gold on the Nordic Derivatives Exchange (NDX).
Insuring Market Data: A Modest Proposal?
An executive at the Bank of New York has posed the idea of creating insurance contracts to guarantee the quality of market data, now that greater emphasis and responsibility is being placed on accurate and timely data.
Five banks form Swiss Structured Products Association
Five Swiss-based banks have launched the Swiss Structured Products Association (SSPA), in an effort to increase understanding and acceptance of structured products.
The Great Ratings Debate Continues
Controversy over how the major credit ratings agencies operate broke out again at a conference hosted by the Bond Market Association earlier this year.
CIMA appoints new director to oversee Basel II implementation
The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has appointed a new director to oversee Basel II implementation and update the authority’s various Statements of Guidance (SoG). At his first board meeting, Bryan Bothwell and the rest of the CIMA board…
Amex lists three new products
The American Stock Exchange (Amex) has listed three new structured products, as the exchange seeks to up its listings yet again this year. At the end of December 2005, Amex traded 373 structured products bringing to market 136 new structured products in…
Risk management is vital to the economic well-being of developing markets, says governor of Algeria’s central bank
Mohammed Laksaci, governor of the Central Bank of Algeria, Banque d’Algerie, spoke this week about how global risks will affect the financial stability of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Algeria, Ghana, Islamic Republic of Iran, Morocco, Pakistan…
Federal Reserve publishes changes to the quarterly report of assets and liabilities of large foreign offices of US banks
The Fed has approved changes to the Quarterly Report of Assets and Liabilities of Large Foreign Offices of US Banks (FR 2502q).
BIS releases provisional international banking statistics
The BIS has released provisional data for the end of the fourth quarter of 2005 for both its locational and consolidated banking statistics. The locational statistics provide an insight into the aggregate international claims and liabilities of all banks…
Globes report shows Israeli banks’ IT spending up by 28%
A report done by Globes, a financial press in Israel, shows that meeting Basel II regulations has increased IT spending by 28% in 2005, and the figure is expected to rise.
Governor of the central bank of Malaysia to focus on risk management
Governor Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz of the central bank in Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia) has delivered a speech detailing monetary and financial policies in the Asian network economy, where he emphasised business continuity and risk…
Reuters agrees risk management deals with Dubai government and commercial bank of Qatar
Reuters today announced it has signed two deals for its Kondor suite of products in the Middle East with the Government of Dubai, Department of Finance (DoF) and the Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) - the second largest bank in Qatar. Reuters’ head of…
Commercialbank offers emerging markets investment
Qatar-based Commercialbank has launched a new investment product providing investors with the opportunity to invest in emerging markets, knowing that their capital is fully protected.
ONAM hires institutional head - structured products one of priorities
Old Mutual Asset Managers (UK) (OMAM) has hired Dermot Keegan as managing director of its institutional business.
Wohlenberg steps up to head STOXX supervisory board
Holger Wohlenberg, managing director of Deutsche Borse, has been elected chairman of the supervisory board of STOXX.
BNP Paribas to expand equity derivatives team by 200
BNP Paribas is increasing the headcount of its equity derivatives division by almost a third, in an effort to tap the growing demand for equity-linked products from emerging markets. In an interview with RiskNews ( Structured Products' sister publication…
Mario Draghi to succeed Roger Ferguson as chairman of the Financial Stability Forum
Following consultations within the Financial Stability Forum's (FSF) membership, the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors have confirmed support for the designation of the current governor of the Bank of Italy, Mario Draghi, as chairman of the…
HKMA publishes plans for Basel II implementation
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today published its annual report for 2005, in which the authority announces its current progress with Basel II implementation and tasks due to be completed this year.
IIF proposes eight-point reform programme to strengthen the global financial system
The Institute of International Finance (IIF) today proposed an eight-point integrated package of actions designed to forge a new partnership between the IMF, capital markets and countries in order to strengthen the global financial system. The IIF's…
Not preparing for risk is the biggest problem facing businesses and governments, according to Fed member
Mark Olson, member of the board of governors at the US Federal Reserve, has spoken about enterprise-wide compliance-risk management. In his speech, Olson addressed two main changes to the global financial system, including the financial sector's…
QFCRA appoints governing board
The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) today announced the appointment of its governing board. Jean-Francois Lepetit, Robert O’Sullivan, Brian Quinn and Andrew Sheng will support chairman and CEO Phillip Thorpe.
BIS publishes papers on monetary policy regimes and price stability
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has published two white papers. The first discusses monetary policy regimes and macroeconomic outcomes in Hong Kong and Singapore. The second argues that price stability may not be a good indication of…