News
ICE cool over EnronOnline’s revival
Atlanta-based trading portal IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) remains bullish about its prospects, despite the re-launch of a repackaged EnronOnline. The new version of the bankrupt Enron’s Web-based energy market was launched on February 11 by Swiss…
Rolfe & Nolan to launch RANorder Pro
UK derivatives systems provider, Rolfe & Nolan (R&N), is poised to launch a new trade-order entry system for institutional traders called RANorder Pro.
Latest patsystems ceo faces non-confidence vote
Shareholders of London-based electronic trading connectivity and front-end vendor, patsystems, have called for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to seek the removal of David Jones as chief executive.
Merrill takes on more risk, sets up equity prop-trading unit
Merrill Lynch appears determined to take more risk on its own books as part of an effort to boost profits. The firm’s latest move is to set up an equity prop-trading unit to trade equity-linked products. The development follows a decision last year to…
Basel II final paper delayed until 2003
Global banking regulators now expect to issue their final version of the complex and controversial Basel II bank capital adequacy accord “some time next year” rather than by the end of this year as previously hoped.
Nymex and CME offer joint energy futures
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) is to offer smaller versions of its energy futures contracts via the electronic trading platform of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
Credit Lyonnais boosts Asian hedge fund team
The emerging markets arm of Credit Lyonnais has made three new hires to its specialist hedge fund team in Hong Kong.
UK to set up 'information clearing house' for disaster recovery
The Bank of England plans to launch a prototype ‘information clearing house’ on disaster recovery for financial firms in the near future, a senior official of the UK’s central bank said.
No systemic risk management failure at AIB, says Moody's
Rating agency Moody's has confirmed its Aa3 rating for Allied Irish Banks' long-term debt, despite the bank'sannouncement of a suspected $750 million fraud at its US subsidiary, Allfirst Financial.
Senators move to block preferential employee stock options tax treatment
Four US senators will today introduce a new bill, the 'Ending the Double Standard for Stock Options Act', that will require US corporations to treat employee stock options in the same way in both their tax returns and financial statements.
KWI builds product development team
London-based KWI, a supplier of trading and risk management systems for the energy markets, has made two new appointments to enhance its product development team and to increase the functionality of its flagship product, kW3000.
Newsome urges caution on revising derivatives rules
James Newsome, chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has urged policy-makers not to rush to impose new regulations on the over-the-counter derivatives industry in reaction to the collapse of Enron.
DrKW adds to credit derivatives team in Japan
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein has hired Michael Gordon as director of credit derivatives trading in Tokyo. He was previously a credit derivatives trader at Enron Credit in Japan.
Merrill Lynch continues FX drive with key hires
Merrill Lynch has made three key FX hires in New York and Tokyo, combating rumours that a recent exodus of dealers had left the bank’s foreign exchange business understaffed.
TFS-Icap completes Volbroker integration
Interbank broker TFS-Icap has completed the integration of online options broking platform Volbroker, following its December 1 acquisition of a stake in the bank-owned consortium.
Euronext in further European expansion
Euronext, the combined Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels exchange, has taken a further step towards creating a pan-European derivatives trading platform, by entering a cross-selling agreement with the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE).
Moody’s acquires KMV for $210 million
Credit ratings agency Moody’s has purchased California-based credit risk management technology firm KMV for $210 million in an all-cash deal.
Zipspeed launches daily mark-to-market weather index
Atlanta-based weather risk management company, Zipspeed, is set to launch a new weather index that it hopes will draw financial companies into the US weather risk market on a greater scale.
Heineken seeks rainy day hedge
Heineken, the Dutch brewing company, is seeking to hedge its business exposure to rainy Saturdays, according to a weather market source. Such a development is seen by some participants as a key test for the future growth of the weather risk market.
Survey delay puts Basel II timetable under further strain
Delays in issuing a crucial survey could again imperil the timetable of the Basel II bank capital adequacy Accord and further endanger the European Commission’s schedule for risk-based bank regulation.
Bank of China, CCB roll out Misys’ Opics suite
Bank of China and China Construction Bank (CCB) are rolling out London-based Misys International Banking Systems' Opics treasury and capital markets software suite. The service will provide both institutions with a straight-through processing (STP)…
US regulated market sees strong growth
The International Securities Exchange (ISE) became the latest US derivatives exchange to post record average daily trading volumes in January.
RWE counts €11 million Enron cost but inherits staff
RWE, Germany’s second largest utility, believes it has the largest energy trading exposure in continental Europe to Enron Europe, the London-based subsidiary of the bankrupt energy trading firm. RWE Trading, the marketing and trading arm of the Essen…
Currency swap illiquidity may hit Korean cross-border ABS growth
The Korean cross-border asset-backed securitisation (ABS) market could see growth stymied this year due to a lack of liquidity in the currency swaps market. While both Hyundai Capital and Samsung Capital are expected to issue separate $300 million cross…