Feature
Bilateral compression takes off as banks tackle leverage
It used to mean the tearing-up of perfectly matching trades, but compression has become something bolder and more ambitious in recent months – at the same time, it has also become more confusing, and smaller banks fear they may have the wool pulled over…
Numerix takes top spot in Structured Products Technology Rankings 2014
Structured Products Technology Rankings 2014
Accessing offshore renminbi through synthetics and ETFs
Lurching towards liquidity
Barclays ETN follows Nobel strategy
Star attractions
Hedge funds, leverage and mortgages: why Fannie and Freddie's new deals worry some experts
Hedge funds have been keen buyers of the new mortgage risk-sharing deals issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but as spreads have tightened, worries about leverage have grown. Some now argue mortgage finance requires a more stable source of capital. By…
US banks fear competitive impact of higher leverage ratio
US regulators have pledged to adopt the new Basel leverage ratio, but with higher minimums, sparking concerns that US banks will find it harder to compete in repo and other businesses. Lukas Becker reports
Supervisors slam banks over 'top 20' counterparty results
After five years of work, a group of 19 big banks still get a failing grade from supervisors on their ability to pull together and report counterparty exposures. Is it all a question of cost? Fiona Maxwell reports
Volatility powers increased structured products trading in Germany
Advancement through volatility
Fed probes catastrophic risks in bank physical commodity trading
The US Federal Reserve has moved to tighten the rules on physical commodity trading by banks, citing fears they might suffer huge losses as a result of an environmental disaster. How valid are such concerns and what steps is the Fed likely to take?…
Options cutting costs for some cross-currency swaps
Dealers found a way to protect some cross-currency swaps from heavy new capital requirements last year, by adding foreign exchange options into the structure – but the powers of the technique are limited. Matt Cameron reports
Emir reporting date sparks 'mad rush' in energy derivatives market
A requirement to report trades under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation kicked in on February 12, creating a rush to comply among energy derivatives market participants. Some firms have struggled with the rules, and say a lack of support from…
Sefs not expecting a big bang from Mat spark
As the Sef trading mandate arrives, platforms are primed for a jump in volumes – but with many clients currently avoiding Sefs, it may be a small bang, rather than a big one. Tom Osborn reports
Issuers change their tune on structured note disclosures
Open to disclosure
Cyber threat real for hedge funds
Under attack
Bitcoin regulation challenges and complexities
Funny money
AIFMD applications face timing pitfalls
Timing applications
Rising cybersecurity threats mean a future of friction and mistrust
A collapse of faith in the internet is unlikely – but a slow-burning loss of confidence is far more probable, and will mean steadily rising costs of doing business
Single-stock futures skirt US dividend-equivalent withholding
Skirting the tax
Legal and practical protections from cyber attack
All companies face the risk of an online attack – what precautions can they take against it, and how can they react once an attack starts?
Repacks revisited: Asia investors turn to structured credit
Repacks revisited
Insurers bridge infrastructure investment challenge
As life insurers increase their exposure to infrastructure, Blake Evans-Pritchard reports on the different ways in which they are approaching the asset class