Foreign exchange
Shanghai steel futures shine on first day of trading
The Shanghai Futures Exchange launched trading in steel futures on March 26 to modest success, with a wide range of trading houses supporting the new contracts, traders and analysts said. The two new contracts are the seventh and eighth products to be…
CDSs on banks under UK asset protection programme widen
The cost of credit protection on UK banks rose marginally this morning. As the deadline of March 31 for UK banks to sign up to the government's asset protection programme approaches, banks already participating in the scheme saw their CDSs widen the most.
Geithner: US will "force all standardised OTC derivatives into central clearing"
The US Treasury will seek to fully regulate over-the-counter derivatives, secure the registration of large hedge funds with federal authorities and push ahead with plans to create a new systemic super regulator, Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner has…
Moody's: FGIC unable to meet payments
Moody's has warned that monoline insurer FGIC might not be able to meet its payments on the subprime-linked assets it has insured.
US Fed and Treasury clarify financial stability responsibilities
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Aite outlines fraud management priorities for US banks
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US Wrap: Goldman Sachs offers leveraged note
Goldman Sachs has launched a leveraged buffered equity note linked to the S&P 500 index, on what has been a quiet day for US issuance after yesterday's flurry of reverse convertible launches. Morgan Stanley, the only other issuer to place a trade, has…
Banks win slack from FASB on fair value
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has proposed amendments to fair-value accounting, which would allow financial institutions employing internal models to valuate assets and liabilities in illiquid markets.
Vattenfall enters UK power market
Vattenfall Trading Services has started trading over-the-counter and exchange wholesale power in the UK from its Hamburg office.
Geithner to announce illiquid asset repurchase programme
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US Wrap: Royal Bank of Canada unleashes 20 new reverse convertibles
Royal Bank of Canada rushed into the issuance market last Friday with the release of 20 reverse convertibles, based on the fortunes of a whole range US stocks, from General Electric to Google and including the bold move of relating products to financials…
Market frustrated by lack of detail on US toxic-asset purchase plan
Economists and analysts have criticised the US Treasury's updated toxic-asset purchase plan for again failing to provide the granular detail or specified launch date necessary to reassure capital markets the proposals will indeed help curb the global…
Lyxor limits counterparty risk of ETN
Société Générale's Lyxor Asset Management unit is marketing a new exchange-traded note (ETN) that follows the price of gold, which it says will significantly reduce the problem of counterparty risk.
'Technical' factors drive banks back to profit
Major US and European banks are predicting profits for the first quarter of 2009 - but analysts caution that the apparent upturn has more to do with technical factors than a real recovery in performance.
Suncor bids for Petro-Canada
Suncor has announced plans to boost its oil sands portfolio through a merger with Petro-Canada that will see the combined entity operate under the Suncor name.
Iosco releases recommendations for hedge fund supervision
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IndyMac losses put more strain on FDIC funds
Yesterday's sale of failed California mortgage lender IndyMac has left the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) with a $10.7 billion bill - weakening its reserves further even as the list of failed banks requiring support continues to lengthen.
FSA recommends adding remuneration guidelines to its Handbook
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US Wrap: Barclays continues reverse convertible momentum
Issuance surged in the US market yesterday as Barclays launched 22 reverse convertible notes, adding to the eight it launched yesterday. The new products represent a turnaround for the market, with total issuance for the week now at 55, already double…
Iosco joins call for offshore crackdown
The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (Iosco) has joined calls for new capital rules to enforce transparency on offshore financial centres.
CME launches OTC grain swaps through ClearPort
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has given regulatory approval for the CME to clear corn basis swaps and calendar swaps for corn, wheat and soybeans.
Deutsche Bank takes stake in iron ore brokerage
Deutsche Bank has taken an equity stake of undisclosed size in newly-established London Dry Bulk (LDB), a specialist physical and financial iron ore brokerage division of London Commodity Brokers.
LCH.Clearnet to launch OTC clearing service for spot emissions
LCH.Clearnet has announced intentions to launch a clearing service for UK participants in the spot market for carbon credits.
Turner report published
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