Japan
Asia Risk 15: Interdealer brokers in quest for deeper liquidity
Interdealer brokers have continued to build ever-deeper pools of liquidity in Asian markets as they have forged profitable businesses from Asia’s fragmented economies. While moves to electronic platforms are gaining momentum, relationships are still…
Asia Risk 15: Exchanges have profited from derivatives but face new threats
Asian exchanges have undergone a radical transformation during the past decade as systems were overhauled, new derivatives instruments traded and new ventures formed. Yet perhaps their biggest challenge awaits them. Jill Wong reports
FTSE and CNBC launch Asia-Pacific blue-chip stock index
Index provider FTSE and news group CNBC have partnered in a venture to bring a blue-chip regional benchmark index that includes Japan to the Asia-Pacific market
RBS lands BAML structured products sales team
RBS hires four Bank of America Merrill Lynch sales staffers in Hong Kong, including Abhinav Gorawara
RBC: Japanese limits on margin trading will weigh on Aussie/yen cross in August
Japanese plans to limit leverage on margin trading to a maximum of 50 times collateral in August could affect Australian dollar/yen cross rates.
Taking on variable risk
The variable annuity business in Asia continues to attract banks and insurance companies. The potential market is of a staggering size which would far surpass the volumes in the US or Japan, the two biggest users of the products. Harry Thompson…
Moodys: Japan SME CDO ratings to show stable to positive trends
Moody's report says large increase in Japan SME defaults unlikely as economy recovers
High-net-worth investment in structured products set to rise
The latest Capgemini/Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report predicts greater investment in structured products on the back of a recovery in high-net-worth investors' finances
Asian supervisors look to central clearing
Clearing the way
Asia plays catch-up on CCPs
While European and US regulators blaze a trail in over-the-counter derivatives reform, Asian supervisors have been much more circumspect. Some are now exploring the use of central clearing but many are still wrestling with how best to implement it. Matt…
FVC Custom Indexes
In Europe, the income index is the best performer over the past six years when compared with the accelerated and protected variants. Not so in Japan, where the accelerated index tops the trio of indexes as best performing. In both regions, the protected…
Sovereign ratings on UK, US, Japan under fire from credit investors
After Greece, Portugal and Spain suffered rating downgrades in April due to escalating fiscal problems, investors ask if the same standards are being applied to advanced economies.
Now you PRDC them...
Power-reverse dual-currency notes have represented something of a Trojan horse for dealers. The hybrid structures have been popular for more than a decade among a wide range of Japanese investors, from regional banks to pension funds. But now the strain…
A reversal of power
Investor demand for power reverse dual currency structures has fallen off a cliff as these once high coupon-paying instruments have morphed into zero coupon bonds with lock-in periods of up to 30 years. Issuers have also incurred significant costs. Is…
Fair-value freeze in Japan
Corporates and financial institutions have long awaited the introduction of the internationally accepted fair-value option to hedge accounting in Japan. They believe a fair-value option would allow more institutions to hedge their risks, particularly in…
Fund managers becoming bullish on hedge funds
Fund managers have largely bullish views on hedge fund investments over the next five years in a sign that confidence is returning to the market.
China seen overtaking US as biggest oil importer in 2-3 years
“In two to three years, China will be the largest global importer of crude oil,” Jorge Montepeque, global director of market reports for Platts, said at today’s Global Outlook for Oil event during IP Week.
Now you PRDC them...
Power-reverse dual-currency notes proved a bonanza for dealers when markets were tame, but risk-managing the product has become a drain on resources and cash in recent years. As a result, some firms have decided to exit the market. Mark Pengelly…
Markets shaken by emissions trading certificate hackers
Market participants are worried they could be holding fraudulent European Union carbon allowances (EUA), after computer hackers launched an alleged phishing attack on the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt).