Infrastructure
The price is right
Consensus on the input assumptions that financial institutions use to value structured finance securities is crucial if the market is to reach a universally agreed method of pricing these impaired assets. By Peter Jones of Standard & Poor's
Stopping the rot
Noises from leading banks that they may be returning to profitability are failing to mask the painful truth that vast quantities of toxic assets are still causing a stink on banks' balance sheets. Credit looks at the various plans being put forward to…
FDIC extension gives breathing space to banks
The difficulties banks are facing in borrowing capital are ample justification for extending the TLGP scheme, say observers. Indeed, there are calls for the scheme to become more permanent
Tear-ups reduce $5.5 trillion of outstanding CDSs, TriOptima says
Swedish technology firm TriOptima has eliminated outstanding credit default swap (CDS) trades worth $5.5 trillion so far this year through its triReduce service, the company said today.
Aluminium canned
Aluminium prices hit a seven-year low in March. Is there any bullish news for the market? Roderick Bruce finds out
CDS 'big bang' could see 18% increase in tear-ups, Markit says
Changes to credit default swap (CDS) contracts due to come into force on April 7 could result in an upturn in trade-compression activity, according to market information provider Markit.
Fed in $287bn currency swap with central banks
Four central banks, including the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE), have agreed further reciprocal foreign currency swap arrangements with the Federal Reserve to provide more US dollar funds to firms in participating nations as…
Emissions drop shows carbon markets are working, says Point Carbon
A 6% decrease on annual global emissions in 2008 in comparison to 2007 shows that the carbon markets are working, according to Point Carbon analysts.
Green shoots
Conference Report: Spain
The credit trap
Cover Story
FVC custom indexes
Data
Market snapshot
Market Analysis
Auction held on CDSs referencing Station Casinos
An auction run by data vendor Markit and broker Creditex yesterday determined final settlement values for credit derivatives trades referencing Las Vegas-based casino operator Station Casinos.
Ups and downs
Seen as a simple solution for reducing counterparty risk by regulators, moving credit derivatives on to central clearing platforms is proving fiendishly complicated. While progress is being made, it is generating more questions than answers. Mark…
What's it worth?
The financial crisis has highlighted shortcomings in bank valuation practices for complex securities. With regulators clamouring for the use of independent prices, there could be an opportunity for third-party data providers. But are banks taking the…
Lyxor launches gold ETN
Lyxor Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Société Générale (SG) has launched its first exchange-traded note (ETN), the Lyxor ETN Long Gold, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The note is designed to track, in real time, the…
Mixed benefits for banks from independent valuations
Flaws in the valuation of complex securities have driven a renewed focus on independent valuations, but vendors remain divided in their assessment of the use banks are making of their services.
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.
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.