Structured products
S&P promises reforms as regulators ponder ratings oversight
Rating agency Standard & Poor's has revealed a list of planned changes aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and restoring confidence in its ratings, as an international regulators' conference suggested tighter restrictions on rating agencies.
Merrill launches Gulf Investible Index Certificate
Merrill Lynch has launched an open-ended publicly-registered and exchange-listed Gulf Investible Index Certificate, offering investors the chance to invest in companies in the Gulf region chosen on the basis of Merrill research with daily liquidity. The…
Surprise over "severe" Fitch CDO cuts
Fitch Ratings has outlined possible changes to its approach to rating collateralised debt obligations (CDOs), with downgrades potentially far deeper than the market expected.
Risk linked with Asian banks ‘mispriced’, says RBS
The credit risk associated with Asian banks is being mispriced by the financial markets and the region’s relatively stronger credit outlook, compared with Europe and the US, makes bank debt potentially an attractive investment opportunity, according to…
SG downgrade throws shadow over structured products
The €4.9 billion loss at Société Générale (SG), blamed by the bank on a single rogue trader, has drawn attention to counterparty credit risk within the structured products industry.
Barclays offers volatility adjusted emerging markets exposure
Barclays Wealth has launched a new structured product offering protected exposure to emerging markets while adjusting for volatility. The five-year product is linked to the performance of the exchange traded fund (ETF) that tracks the iShares MSCI…
ETF Securities to launch entire range of ETCs
ETF Securities will introduce 33 short exchange traded commodities (ETCs) and 33 leveraged ETCs, providing listed access to an entire platform of short and leveraged commodity indexes.
Dawnay Day Quantum appoints Alistair Hewit as Product Manager
Investment manager Dawnay Day Quantum has appointed Alistair Hewit as product manager. Hewit is responsible for the development of new structured investments and mutual funds. His role also entails managing the existing fund range.
Fitch sees rise in Asian securitisation in 2008
Fitch Ratings expects overall issuance in the non-Japan Asian cross-border securitisation market to rise after pricing conditions stablise in 2008 and following stagnant growth in 2007, the agency said in a report issued on February 4.
Securities lending in emerging markets
Emerging Markets: Stock loan
African dream
Regional Focus: Africa
The benefit of insight - why distribution in Japan calls for managed accounts
Asia in Focus: Japan
The Iong and short of it
Short Extension
Hedge funds in the post-07 age: back to basics
Information Technology
Salt of the earth - Macquarie seeks, and finds, alpha returns from commodities
Macquarie has an enviable experience in the commodities and softs markets both trading and structuring products, so it was only logical it has put this to work in a hedge fund format, writes David Walker
Reaching for the stars ..
Alpstar has launched a range of credit-related funds and products, and is branching into equity hedge fund management as well. David Walker sat down with the team at Alpstar to find out more ..
Halbis enjoys the best of both worlds
Halbis's fund offerings are as broad as they are interesting, writes David Walker
Far-sighted foresight
Stenham has got key decisions right, at the right time in the past, about the future, so David Walker asked Harry Wulfsohn about what the future now holds for the FoHF group
The right tools: equities vs CFDs vs spreads
Synthetic Prime Brokerage
From alpha to beta
Michael Azlen, founder of Frontier Capital Management, explains to David Walker why he is no alpha fan
CS indicative market data
Data by Credit Suisse