Foreign exchange
Quant Congress Europe: Regulatory focus to switch to leverage
At the keynote address at the European Quant Congress in London today, Peter Praet, executive director in charge of financial stability at the National Bank of Belgium, said that the Basel II regulatory framework will be revised to look more closely at…
Renewables call for transmission build
Many US states have ambitious renewable energy targets, but billions need to be spent on transmission infrastructure if this new power is to come on line. Susan Arterian Chang looks at the challenges involved in creating the interstate transmission…
CFTC petitioned to allow clearing of OTC agricultural contracts
Agora-X an electronic trading and negotiation platform for commodities, has petitioned the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to allow the clearing of over-the-counter (OTC) contracts in major agricultural commodities.
Carbon registry link-up to boost trading volumes
The long-awaited link up of the European Union's emissions trading scheme with the Kyoto Protocol's carbon credit registry could take emissions trading to a new level, finds Katie Holliday
PowerShares to release actively managed US Real Estate ETF
Invesco PowerShares has announced its plan to launch an actively managed US Real Estate exchange-traded fund (ETF) on NYSE Arca in November.
Warsaw witnesses its highest volumes in structured products
The Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) has recorded its highest monthly value in turnover of structured products, reining in more than Z26 million PLN (US$9.6 million). The figure includes €2.03 million on bonds and Z23.99 million on certificates. The WSE also…
What’s our policy?
Today’s volatile and unpredictablemarket conditions make itincreasingly important to designan overarching risk managementpolicy upon which a riskmanagement programme can bedefined and built. David Perez ofEnite offers some guidelines
Shale shake-up
With high natural gas prices, volatility and fewer financingoptions, shale gas developers are de-risking through jointventures and more aggressive hedging programmes. CatherineLacoursière reports
EU aviation emission targets seen too low; reviewed 2013
The Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union has announced that aviation will be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 1 January 2012, following a meeting in Luxembourg on October 24.
ICE Clear Europe goes live
London-based energy exchange ICE Futures Europe yesterday successfully switched its clearing operations from LCH.Clearnet to is own ICE Clear Europe clearing house.
Ambac and MBIA record heavy Q3 losses
Battered by mortgage-related positions and credit losses, bond-insurance companies Ambac and MBIA both took a hit in the third quarter.
CDS losses hit Swiss Re
Swiss Re, the world’s second largest reinsurer, has reported a third quarter net loss of SFr 304 million ($262 million) after being hit by heavy mark-to-market writedowns on its structured credit exposures.
Barclays releases Guaranteed Deposit Accounts for offshore bonds
Barclays Capital has launched two deposit accounts as the latest in its structured deposit series for offshore bonds. The five-year Guaranteed Arabia Titans 50 Deposit Account provides exposure to 50 leading Arab stocks, represented by the Arabia Titans…
Carbon and waste ETFs hit Euronext Paris
EasyETF listed both low carbon and global waste exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on NYSE Euronext today. The EasyETF Low Carbon 100 Europe offers investors exposure to 100 blue-chip European companies that have the smallest carbon footprint relative to their…
Direxion burst into ETF market with eight leveraged ETFs
Direxion, a provider of alternative investment strategies, has entered the exchange-traded fund (ETF) arena with eight leveraged bull and bear ETFs, offering 300% leveraged exposure. The Direxion Shares 3x ETFs provide 300% of the daily performance, or…
44% drop in EU ETS shortfall predicted
The global recession will bring a 44% drop in EU ETS shortfall, according to a forecast on November 3 by IDEAcarbon, a carbon market and research firm
Energy traders clash with regulators
In the wake of the credit crunch, energy trading executives have clashed with regulators over the potential imposition of what they see as onerous trade data reporting obligations.