Foreign exchange
FSA shakes up capital rules for UK insurers
The UK's main financial regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has released proposals for a shake-up of its capital regime for non-life insurers.
Corporate Governance Survey 2003, Part 2 >>Corporate governance disclosure: banks focus on bolstering infrastructure
In the second part of Operational Risk's review of 15 bank annual reports for 2002, the editors look at how firms have chosen to address the hot button issues of corporate governance, reputational risk and legal risk. Again, practices vary widely among…
Sponsor's article > The point of op risk
The inclusion of an explicit operational risk component in the proposed Basel II Capital Accord has caused widespread controversy. Much of this has surrounded the feasibility of accurately measuring, or even defining, such risk. In this first of three…
City of Los Angeles files lawsuit against Reliant
The City of Los Angeles has filed a $218 million lawsuit against Houston-based Reliant Energy and its successor companies, alleging breach of contract and conspiracy to drive up the price of natural gas.
Cad 3 will hit asset manager profits, says Mercer Oliver Wyman
The European Union's proposed third capital adequacy directive (Cad 3) will force European asset managers to hold significantly more capital than at current levels.
Reputation is the biggest risk, says PwC
Reputational risk is now the biggest single risk financial institutions face, according to professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Preparation, quantification, implementation
While the South African Reserve Bank is in favour of Basel II, those tasked with preparing for the new capital accord are in no doubt that the risk quantification challenges presented by it are daunting.
All in Accord
South Africa's banks are taking Basel II seriously. Clive Davidson discovers what they are doing to prepare for its implementation, and how they are meeting the many challenges of the new capital accord.
Cad 3 will hit asset manager profits, says Mercer Oliver Wyman
The European Union’s proposed third capital adequacy directive (Cad 3) will force European asset managers to hold significantly more capital than at current levels. This will reduce their profitability, and could prompt a shake-out in the industry,…
Reputation is the biggest risk, says PwC
Reputational risk is now the biggest single risk financial institutions face, according to professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Who will be on Basel II in the US?
Observers are wondering, now that the US regulatory agencies have released their advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR), which banking institutions will be considered mandatory banks, and be forced to use the advanced credit and operational risk…
Fed seeks public comment on Basel II
The Federal Reserve has issued an interagency advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public comment on the implementation of the new Basel Accord in the US.
IDEAglobal moves into credit derivatives
IDEAglobal, a Singapore-based market research company best known for its fixed-income commentary, is moving into credit derivatives.
MMS launches one-stop credit service
Market data provider MMS International launched a real-time credit and derivatives commentary service last week, its first new service in five years.
Mutual fund proposals may spur tech uptake
NEW YORK – Mutual funds may have to make more technology implementations if legislation introduced by the US House of Representatives' financial services committee becomes law. The bill, proposed last month, is intended to improve mutual funds'…
Book extract > Operational Risk Management: The Solution is in the Problem
"There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction", John F. Kennedy . During the last few years there has been growing interest in the need for firms within the financial…
Bankgesellschaft Berlin picks Trema
Bankgesellschaft Berlin (BGB) has selected the French-based financial software services provider, Trema, to help streamline the German bank’s operations.
Insurers must change their ways to comply with Basel II
New York – The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has granted financial institutions the option of using insurance to offset operational risk charges under the advanced measurement approach in the third consultative paper (CP3) – but not without…
Prebon Marshall and Swapstream agree to jointly promote swap and OTC trading platform
Inter-dealer broker Prebon Marshall Yamane has formed a strategic partnership with London-based Swapstream, to promote the trading platform to its customers.
Standard & Poor's enters portfolio risk modelling
Standard & Poor's (S&P) Risk Solutions has launched a portfolio risk tracker model. The model covers both credit and market risk, which should allow banks to calculate their economic capital and perform risk assessments across the full range of risks…
EU Parliament to hold "Basel II and SMEs" workshop, publish paper
The European parliament is holding a workshop, Basel II and the consequences for SMEs, on July 10.
EU Cad concedes on investment firms but limits role of insurance
Brussels – The European Commission issued the fourth consultation on the capital adequacy directive (Cad) on July 1.
Trésor unlikely to resume swaps programme in near future
The French debt management agency, the Agence France Trésor, will not resume its swaps programme in the current market conditions, said Sylvain de Forges, the agency's Paris-based chief executive.
Microsoft drops stock option compensation
US software company Microsoft has broken ranks with other leading technology providers by announcing its intention to end employee compensation using stock options.