Structured products
Barra launches Risk Factor
Barra, the California-based risk management systems vendor, has launched an equity volatility software programme, Risk Factor. Aimed at retail brokers, Risk Factor is designed to compare the relative volatility and likely performance risk of more than 10…
Credit derivatives see six-fold increase in three years
The over-the-counter (OTC) credit derivatives market stood at $694 billion in June, a six-fold increase in the last three years, according to the latest global triennial survey released by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) today.
Isda's Euro Protocol draws 242 signatories
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) said this week that 242 dealers and end-users signed its 2001 Euro Protocol by the November 30 deadline. Isda issued the Euro Protocol in September in response to documentation concerns voiced by…
Open interest on E-mini futures surges; S&P 500 vol relents
Open interest on Nasdaq 100 and S&P E-mini futures contracts, electronically traded index futures and options that are smaller than standard futures contracts, has increased by 63% and 15%, respectively, since October. The ratio of open interest to…
Financial institutions reassess risk probabilities
Financial institutions are now increasingly concerned with the likelihood of certain risks following the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, Enron’s near-collapse and Argentina’s debt problems, the US Securities Industry Association (SIA) said in a…
JP Morgan Chase claims success for new high-yield bond index
JP Morgan Chase is claiming success for HYDI-100, its six-week-old credit default swap index, which is referenced to 100 of the most liquid names in the bank’s high-yield bond index.
NY Fed notes high variations in stress testing across institutions
The magnitude of shocks used in stress testing by financial institutions varies substantially, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (NY Fed) has said in a paper.
BOTCC strikes metals derivatives deal with CMXchange
Chicago's Board of Trade Clearing Corporation (BOTCC) has entered an agreement to process and guarantee the forward and over-the-counter derivatives transactions of internet-based metals exchange, CMXchange, located in Northfield, Illinois.
Algo includes S&P for Basel II
Algorithmics is strengthening its credit risk management offering as demand grows for more comprehensive credit solutions. It is integrating a number of Standard & Poor’s credit data products with its analytical tools and developing a new module to help…
Will Germany scupper Basel II?
How real is Germany’s threat to veto the proposed Basel II bank capital accord if the country fails to get the concessions it wants on the accord’s treatment of bank lending to small to medium-sized companies (SMEs)?
Regulators looking at possible changes to Basel II credit risk plans
Basel - Global banking regulators are studying possible changes to the credit risk proposals of the complex Basel II bank capital accord, after seeing evidence that banks face higher capital charges under Basel II than they do under the current Basel I…
Could the Basel II op risk charge be cut again?
BASEL - Might banking regulators agree again to lower the capital charge for operational risk proposed under the controversial Basel II bank capital accord as part of horse-trading over the credit risk charge?
Building for Basel
The 2005 implementation date for the new Basel II Accord – already postponed by a year – is looming large. Whilst the banking sector is steadily gearing up for the proposed changes, there are fears that some institutions may be left behind.
Is there hope in the advanced measurement approaches?
Basel II is mistaken in assuming a stable relationship between expected and unexpected losses, argues Jacques Pézier in his second article on the Basel Committee’s recent operational risk working paper.
Building for Basel
The 2005 implementation date for the new Basel II Accord – already postponed by a year – is looming large. Whilst the banking sector is steadily gearing up for the proposed changes, there are fears that some institutions may be left behind.
A spanner in the works
The US and Germany are in a standoff over Basel II’s capital charge calculation for SME lending. Without a compromise this month, the issue threatens to derail implementation of the Accord and the European Directive.
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