Foreign exchange
Books | The equities architect
Structured Equity Derivatives, the Definitive Guide to Exotic Options and Structured Notes by Harry Kat, John Wiley & Sons. 392 pages, $89.95. ISBN 0–461–48652–3
BNP Paribas begins issuing synthetic CDOs in Asia
French bank BNP Paribas plans to start issuing arbitrage synthetic collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) for the first time in Asia, ex-Japan, according to a Hong Kong-based official.
Swiss Re strikes $150 million contingent capital deal
Swiss Re, the Zurich-based reinsurer, has closed a $150 million contingent capital deal with MBIA, the world’s largest financial guarantor, based in Armonk, New York. The deal closed on December 27, but its details have been closely guarded until now.
Risk Awards dinner raises $160,000 for WTC appeal fund
Risk magazine’s Awards dinner raised more than $160,000, according to the initial count, for Risk magazine’s World Trade Center appeal fund. The dinner, held last night in the Regent Hotel, Wall Street, featured the presentation of the annual Risk Awards…
Regulation | On the road to Basel III
UK regulators want to harmonise regulation of the financial services sector – and they have insurance companies in their sights.
Legislation | Enron-related regulatory issues hit derivatives industry
Enron’s collapse has sparked calls for more derivatives regulation and stricter accounting standards in the US. What proposals should the derivatives industry be concerned about? Polyn
Solving the pensions puzzle
A host of market and structural problems are plaguing US corporate pension plans. Derivatives dealers are pitching a number of potential solutions.
Pinched budgets strain IT decisions
The September 11 attacks and continuing economic downturn have severely affected the global banking industry. Now banks’ IT departments must increasingly justify their build-or-buy decisions in terms of value for money, speed and increased functionality.
Job moves
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: - “Few regulators really understand derivatives... That’s not their fault, many of us don’t either” A London forex trader commenting on AIB’s $750 million loss. Source: The Mirror, February 7
UBS Warburg snares Merrill equity risk structurers
UBS Warburg has snared Min Park and Chang Sik Cin from Merrill Lynch to boost its equity derivatives risk services offered to institutional investors, corporate clients, and high-net-worth individuals.