Structured products
Profile: Henrik Raber
Standard Chartered's new head of capital markets in Europe, America and Africa speaks to Credit about where he sees growth opportunities in the months ahead
ESG: Credit investing with a conscience
Making investment decisions based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors isn't just a woolly-minded 'trendy' move designed to appease the hairshirt-wearing green lobby. It actually makes financial sense, as Caroline Harrison of ASSET4…
US Wrap: Morgan Stanley offers Asian ETF exposure
The US market has adopted a new twist, and it is nothing to do with reverse convertibles. Morgan Stanley has launched a new product linked to the performance of Asian exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The product incorporates exposure to four Asian regions:…
US Wrap: RBC chases reverse convertible flurry with autocallable
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has chased its bumper issuance of reverse convertible notes with a kick out product linked to the S&P 500 index. The note will redeem with a return of 13.25% if the S&P 500 is at or above its initial level when the product…
Market questions UNG's influence
The US Natural Gas Fund (UNG), an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the prompt-month US natural gas price by buying Nymex futures and Nymex / ICE Henry Hub swaps, has caused controversy by building up a large market position.
US Wrap: RBC brings reverse convertible total to 35
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has brought its total reverse convertible count in the US market to 35. The bank has broadened its scope to include the stock of exchanges as underlyings in the new clutch of notes, including Nasdaq and NYSE Euronext.
Thomson restructuring causes headache for CDS index tranches
Market participants are uncertain how to deal with index tranche products referencing the iTraxx credit default swap (CDS) indexes following the restructuring credit event at French media company Thomson, which was a member of the indexes.
ETF Securities launches Japanese platform for commodities funds
ETF Securities has launched a new platform in Japan for physically-backed precious metal commodities exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Five funds began trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange today.
US Wrap: RBC steps into reverse convertibles with commodity equities
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has launched a clutch of new reverse convertible notes into the US market with a focus on commodity equities. Reference stocks for the latest structures include Arch Coal, Chesapeake Energy and Frontier Oil on the energy front.
HSBC launches ETF strategy for Europe
HSBC will launch its first exchange traded fund (ETF) product in Europe tomorrow (August 25). Listed on the London Stock Exchange and tracking the FTSE 100 index, the Ireland-domiciled ETF will be sold first in the UK, and later in continental Europe…
US Wrap: Caution on S&P 500 performance
UBS has launched a new non-directional offering on the S&P 500 which pays income regardless of whether the index moves up or down. The 18 month product pays 100% positive participation provided that the index does not go below 70% of its initial starting…
UK wrap: Meteor bursts forth with an at risk kickout plan
Meteor blazed a lone trail in a week that was dominated by the re-launch of three Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) notes.
US Wrap: Finance and freight for mid-week
Barclays Bank has launched three new reverse convertibles covering some unusual stock themes. After the massive tumbles taken by the Baltic Dry Index last year, freight is now making a return to the structured products market in the form of a note linked…
Structured Products contributes on BBC Radio 4
Structured Products featured on BBC Radio 4's 'Face the Facts' programme today, which addressed the losses faced by UK savers who bought Lehman Brothers-backed structured products.
Ex-Keydata consultant opens new firm for business
Gilliat Financial Solutions, a specialist UK structured products distributor founded by ex-Keydata consultant Adrian Neave, has announced it plans to launch two new FTSE-based products in early September.
US Wrap: ABN and UBS close in on General Electric
ABN Amro and UBS have both launched reverse convertible notes linked to the stock of General Electric lasting three months. ABN's note pays an annualised coupon of 10.75%, with a conversion barrier of 80%. UBS's note pays a lower coupon of 9% but has a…
Britannia offers latest issue of its offshore Guaranteed Capital Bond
Britannia International, an offshore savings bank, has opened issue 8 of its Guaranteed Capital Bond. The three year 100% capital protected product will pay a fixed return of 3.54% annually if the FTSE 100 index is equal to or greater than the start…
US Wrap: RBC mixes reverse convertibles and growth
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has joined the latest trend for reverse convertible products, launching two new notes linked to Wells Fargo. The structures have three month maturities and differ in terms of pricing. While one note offers a conversion barrier…
US Wrap: ABN and JP Morgan bank on financials
ABN Amro and JP Morgan both launched reverse convertible notes linked to banking stocks at the close of last week. ABN's note, referencing Citigroup stock, was the bank's only offering into the market. The six-month product pays an annualised coupon of…
Structured products preferred by advisers, says Morgan Stanley survey
Structured products have come top of the list of investment products financial advisers would recommend to their clients, according to a new survey by Morgan Stanley. Structured plans leapt two places from the bank's last survey in December 2008,…