Infrastructure
Fed discusses CDS clearing house options
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is today in discussions with interested parties over the establishment of a central clearing house for credit default swaps (CDSs).
Out of gas
High US gasoline prices are causing Americans to turn to energy-efficientvehicles, a trend that could have an enormous and long-term impact ongasoline demand, some experts say. Kate Fazzini investigates
A grounded business
As high fuel costs force many airlines to introduce fuel efficiencyprogrammes and even resort to grounding aircraft, Katie Holliday looksat the likely effects of these measures on jet fuel demand and price inthe coming months
Pricing volumetric risk
Sergey Kolos and Konstantin Mardanov of Citi Commodities presenta general framework for pricing contracts with volumetric risk.They concentrate on a simple payoff and focus the discussion on themain challenge of such contracts, the pricing of the…
Natural gas caught by an energy price wave
US natural gas prices have been dragged up by crude oil prices despitehaving different fundamentals. Eric Fishhaut at GlobalView Softwarecharts the trend
Transparency act remains unclear
Proposed legistlation on US energy market regulation is causing concern amongst traders finds Pauline McCallion
Business as usual for Merrill as BofA eyes prize
Merrill Lynch may have made mistakes in the credit market, but its commodity franchise is a real prize for its prospective owners, finds Energy Risk
Safe to come out?
As energy traders take stock after the unprecedented market turmoil of September, the Energy Risk team asks a range of key players what effects they expect the investment banking crisis to have on commodities trading and risk management
Funds warn against stifling trade
Recent moves to increase regulation in oil markets are stifling trade and won't bring down prices, warn fund managers
Turkey's political pipelines
Turkey's strategic position at the crossroads of East and West has put it at the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war, with energy supply a key driver. Robert Amsterdam examines the energy policies being brought to bear in the region
ETRM evolution
As energy trading and risk management systems become increasingly sophisticated, Rana Basu of TradeCapture looks at what users need to consider as they progress from implementing and using the most basic to the most complex systems
Fed to lend additional $37.8 billion to AIG
The US Federal Reserve has stepped in again to help troubled insurance company American International Group (AIG), authorising the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to borrow up to $37.8 billion in investment-grade fixed income securities from AIG in…
Pimco in frame to run commercial paper purchase facility
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has confirmed it is in talks with California-based bond fund Pimco to manage the government’s new commercial paper purchase facility (CPFF).
CME and Citadel plan CDS exchange
Chicago-based exchange operator CME Group and hedge fund management firm Citadel Investment Group are set to launch a fully integrated trading and clearing platform for credit default swaps (CDSs).
Hong Kong Minibond distributors may buy back products
Hong Kong distributors, which sold Lehman Minibonds to retail investors, could possibly buy back the products at the prevailing market price under a proposal put forward by the Hong Kong financial secretary. Under the proposal the trustee of the…
TriOptima reconciling 50% of collateralised OTC derivatives
Swedish technology company TriOptima’s portfolio reconciliation service, TriResolve, now reconciles more than 50% of all collateralised over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives transactions globally, up from 40% in June.
Fed to treble lending
The Federal Reserve increased its Term Auction Facility (TAF) auctions by $300 billion on Monday, and expects its lending to reach $900 billion by November; three times the amount of liquidity provision given to date.
Auction determines settlement price for Fannie and Freddie
An auction to determine settlement prices on credit derivatives referencing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac took place yesterday, making it by far the largest credit event fixing to have taken place since the process was first introduced in 2005.
Fannie and Freddie auctions raise questions about CDSs
The settlement prices on credit default swaps (CDSs) linked to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, determined at an auction yesterday, were heavily influenced by technical factors and raise questions about the efficacy of credit derivatives as a hedge, claim…
US agrees $700 billion bail-out
Daily news headlines
LCDX index roll postponed indefinitely
London-based data provider Markit is postponing the roll of its LCDX index of 100 North American loan credit default swaps (LCDSs) until negotiations for a new single-name US LCDS contract are finished.
Iosco group to turn spotlight on commodity markets
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the UK Financial Services Authority are to lead a new international regulators' group overseeing the commodity markets.
The FX effect
US bond funds that invest in international assets have seen their returns hit by the recent rally in the US dollar. Dalia Fahmy looks at how fund managers are trying to insulate themselves from exchange rate movements and gauges market opinion on which…
Column: Nigel Sillis
Labour costs are rising even though labour is no more scarce. How is this happening?