People
Joining forces
After several false starts the Iberian electricity market, Mibel, finally launched last year, linking the power markets of Spain and Portugal. Andrew Holt looks at what changes it has brought about
A man with a mission
The future of Russian energy under president-elect Dmitri Medvedev largely depends upon his ability to navigate the country's Byzantine political climate, writes Robert Amsterdam
Unclear for US nuclear
Uncertainty surrounding the US government's role in project finance for new nuclear generation is threatening to hold back the renaissance. David Watkins reports
Buying power?
GSEs
Can Fannie and Freddie fix the mortgage crisis?
The once-derided housing agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are being feted as potential saviours of the mortgage market after the authorities relaxed the laws limiting the amount of mortgage debt the agencies can hold. Simon Boughey reports
The squeeze is on - The clampdown on CDO ratings
The rating agencies have faced a barrage of criticism over their role in last year's subprime meltdown. This year they have been focusing on ensuring that a repeat of the ABS problems do not occur in other segments of the structured credit market. But…
Profile: Bill Lindsay
The head of UK credit risk at Eurohypo tells Rob Mannix that the fundamentals of commercial property lending are just the same as they were pre-crisis
MFS Investment Management: Smoothing out the bumps
As seasoned investors will tell you, putting your money in emerging markets can be a rough ride. The highs may be high, but the lows can be even lower. The emerging markets debt team at MFS Investment Management are aiming to give their investors a…
Column: Nigel Sillis
The structured products that were once viewed as the F1 cars of the financial world - complex, efficient, high-performance - are now looking more like exhibits from Wacky Races
An absorbing business for credit hedge funds
Analysts predict there will be a wave of consolidation in the credit hedge fund sector as battered funds look for ways to survive the market turmoil. Already a number of smaller managers have had to bow to the inevitable and merge with larger players…
Traders get a taste for pick and mix
Relying exclusively on third-party applications for trading, pricing and risk management of mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities does not make sense for all buy-side firms. Alternative investment manager Highland Financial Holdings Group has…
Clearing house for derivatives back on the agenda
Widespread uncertainty over counterparty risk, crystallised by the collapse of Bear Stearns, has prompted dealers to resurrect talks aimed at setting up a clearing house for credit derivatives
Mexico dances to a different tune
With US structured finance markets in the grip of the subprime squeeze, close neighbour Mexico might be expected to have suffered a similar fate. But strong investor demand for securitisation and homeowner-friendly government initiatives are combining to…
Changing Hats
CHANGING HATS
Crackdown!
Market Abuse