Structured products
Bank associations hit out at Basel II failings
International banking bodies have hit out at perceived failings in the final version of the Basel II capital Accord, published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on June 26.
OECD works with China on governance issues
At a mid-May conference in Beijing, Richard Hecklinger, deputy secretary-general of the OECD, outlined the work that his organisation is undertaking both on a global scale and within China to improve corporate governance.
Prmia opens six new chapters
The Professional Risk Managers International Association (Prmia) has opened six new offices with a new regional director named to lead each of them. The new offices are in San Francisco and Vancouver in North America; Munich, Athens and Istanbul in…
G260? Initiative gains converts
The debate is gaining momentum. What started out as a small group of disgruntled investors aiming to improve market standards in corporate bond issuance has grown to become a pan-European movement.
An Exceptional Challenge
Zapping bad trades or just knowing about them when they occur is a high priority at UBS Investment Bank.
European Securitisation Forum proposes amendments to Italian law
Trade body the European Securitisation Forum (ESF) has called for a review of Italian securitisation laws to enhance growth and competitiveness.
Merrill Lynch tipped to bid for EKT
Rumours are circulating that Merrill Lynch may snap up Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT) following last week's news that New Orleans-based Entergy Corporation and Wichita's Koch Industries are considering selling their Houston-based energy trading business.
Calming supervisory fears
The region's banks have identified the supervisory review process as the main cause for concern when it comes to Basel II. Low Kwok Mun of the Monetary Authority of Singapore talks about the Singaporean regulator’s approach to implementing Basel II.
European Securitisation Forum proposes amendments to Italian law
Trade body the European Securitisation Forum (ESF) has called for a review of Italian securitisation laws to enhance growth and competitiveness.
Merrill Lynch tipped to bid for EKT
Rumours are circulating that Merrill Lynch may snap up Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT) following last week’s news that New Orleans-based Entergy Corporation and Wichita’s Koch Industries are considering selling their Houston-based energy trading business.
Rating reform
The winds of change that have been forecast to sweep through the credit rating industry are growing stronger, fanned by a set of proposals released by an influential group of finance and treasury bodies, as Saskia Scholtes reports.
Central banks seek more data on credit derivatives
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is going to ask dealers in the credit derivatives market to supply more information about their business, including information on who they are dealing with.
Fitch finds CDS participants should act before times of stress
Credit default swaps (CDS), although an efficient risk management tool, should not be used solely in reaction to times of greatest stress when many corporates are illiquid, said a Fitch Ratings special report, Liquidity in the credit default swap market:…
Nymex fires opening shots for ICE
Nymex has made a $150 million cash bid for the Atlanta based Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and would also pay $67 million for shareholders of the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), according to a senior Nymex official. The bid, which includes…
Private equity firm buys into Refco
US private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL) has acquired a majority stake in Refco, the New York-based broker.
Algo and Bloomberg release enhanced risk service
Toronto-based Algorithmics and Bloomberg released a new version of Algo Risk, a market and trading risk solution, at Algorithmics' annual user conference being held in Boston, Massachusetts this week.
US puts trust in Canadian finance
Canadian income trusts have been trading at all-time highs. Now that the Canadiangovernment is allowing bigger players onto the market, interest from US energyfirms in such vehicles is growing. By Catherine Lacoursiere
CCRO and S&P form liquidity working group
The US Committee of Chief Risk Officers (CCRO) has established a working group along with rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to define the most effective metrics integral to assessing the liquidity demands of energy supply and wholesale marketing…
Natural gas storage swaps catch on
London-based GFI has brokered its first over-the-counter (OTC) swap based on US natural gas inventory data, between Houston-based hedge fund Centaurus and another unnamed hedge fund. Centaurus also traded a second such swap on the same day, with an…
Amerada Hess forms LNG division
US energy company Amerada Hess has formed a joint venture with an affiliate of New York-based Poten & Partners, to be known as Hess LNG. The joint venture will be based at Amerada's New York headquarters and will pursue investments in liquefied natural…
Brent's run ain't spent say experts as macro enjoys a barrel of laughs
global macro / ctas
Energy spins returns for Martin Currie's global fund
Martin Currie is one of the UK's success stories in the hedge fund industry, having tipped the $1bn mark in its hedge funds, many of which are now closed to new investment despite continuing demand
AIMing for the City
Business profile
When credit risk rears its ugly head
software