Infrastructure
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.
Fed increases security purchase plans
In an effort to resuscitate private credit markets, the Federal Open Markets Committee stated today that it would purchase up to $300 billion in long-term US Treasury securities over the next six months.
Derivatives counterparties shun Ford and GM
Few banks are now willing to enter derivatives trades with Ford and General Motors, leaving the struggling car manufacturers exposed to further risk.
CME’s CDS platform approved
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME) received the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 13 to clear credit default swaps (CDSs), but now faces the hard task of getting customers to sign up to its platform.
CME Group one step closer to CDS clearing
US exchange operator Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group has come one step closer to entering the credit derivatives market by signing a deal to clear credit default swaps (CDSs) on financial information services company Markit's CDX and iTraxx…
All Clear?
Despite a recent large increase in volumes, clearing for commodities remains a contentious issue, with little agreement on what the best business model should be, and insufficient standardisation, say market participants. Rachel Morison investigates
Paul Newman
To celebrate its 15th anniversary this year, Energy Risk brings you interviews with the veterans who have helped shape today's energy markets. Paul Newman, oil derivatives pioneer and managing director of Icap Energy, discusses the past 15 years in…
Dealer interest delays LCH.Clearnet and DTCC deal
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has pushed back the deadline for its takeover talks with LCH.Clearnet, in the face of a rival bid from a group of major dealers.
Dealer predicts 85% of CDSs could be centrally cleared by end of 2009
The head of credit derivatives at a major dealer has told Risk he expects to see 35-40% of the credit default swap (CDS) market centrally cleared by the end of June, and as much as 85% by year's end barring any unforeseen mishaps.
Time ripe for inflation investments and hedges, says Sinopia chief
The launch of a variety of fiscal stimulus packages by Asian and western governments combined with quantitative easing by some central banks has renewed concerns about the risk of significant increases in future inflation rates around the world.
US "should set national house value floor" to arrest declining prices
The Obama administration's attempt to revive the housing market by modifying mortgage payments should be scrapped and replaced by a national US house price floor set by the government, a prominent hedge fund manager has claimed.
Senior Supervisors Group: CDS auction process working
A report released on March 9 by the Senior Supervisors Group (SSG) suggests the auction process for settling credit default swaps (CDSs) - tested several times over the past six months - is working.
Bernanke calls for regulatory overhaul of financial system
An overhaul of how the government regulates the financial system is required to prevent future economic crises, said US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke in a speech delivered before the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington today.
Ice launches US CDS clearing service
Atlanta-based derivatives exchange IntercontinentalExchange (Ice) launched its credit default swap (CDS) central clearing platform on March 9 after receiving the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 6.
Low recovery rates set for Aleris International LCDS
Final settlement values for credit derivatives trades referencing Ohio-based aluminum products manufacturer Aleris International were determined during an auction held today by data vendor Markit and broker Creditex.
US Wrap: UBS puts in an appearance with S&P 500 based straddle product
UBS graced the US market with a rare appearance as an issuer yesterday, offering up 100% principal protection absolute return barrier notes linked to the S&P 500 Index. UBS Financial Services is agent for the straddle product based on an underlying that…
Iosco aims to boost oversight on commodity futures
Today, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (Iosco) published guidelines for improving the transparency and supervision of commodity futures markets.
Basel Committee to look at Tier 1 capital quality
Daily news headlines
Isda to publish auction settlement supplement
Daily news headlines
Basel Committee to look at Tier 1 capital quality
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is preparing radical changes to its rules on capital quality, including a 'soft target' of 75% for equity capital - up from 50% today - and the possible abolition of two-tier capital, according to a senior…
Fed approval leaves Ice/TCC on brink of CDS clearing
Intercontinental Exchange's (Ice) application to become a member of the Federal Reserve System has been approved by the US central bank, overcoming one of the final obstacles preventing the firm from launching its central clearing platform for credit…
Isda to publish auction settlement supplement, launches close-out protocol
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association will publish its auction settlement supplement and open the Protocol on March 12.
US to restructure AIG bailout after $61.7 billion Q4 loss
Marking the largest corporate quarterly loss in US history, today AIG reported that it lost $61.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008. It blamed disruption in the credit markets, particularly within its commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS)…