United Kingdom (UK)
Barclays says kick-outs remain popular despite ISA confusion
Barclays Wealth says kick-out structures remain popular in the UK, despite the recent confusion over Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) eligibility. Barclays is reissuing two kick-out structures to UK investors.
FTSE targets UK pensions industry with defined contribution index
FTSE has created an index to help asset managers and retail investors navigate the pensions market. The index provider has partnered with London-based data services firm Pension DCisions to create the first benchmark for the UK’s defined contributions…
World Cup infects structured products
How much can investors earn if their national football teams perform well at the Fifa Football World Cup? Buy a structured product based on the fortunes of your favourite team and find out, says Richard Jory, speaking at a lunch meeting held in London on…
UK Bribery Act broader than FCPA, but more guidelines needed
Firms in the UK will need more guidance on complying with the Bribery Act's strict rules
Eurozone sovereign CDS spreads widen amid continuing contagion fears
Widening continues on eurozone CDS spreads as Australian banks feel the pinch from the Greek debt crisis
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.
CDS spreads slashed as EU emergency measures kick in
News of a massive EU rescue package has boosted market confidence in European sovereign and bank debt.
Optimism for property derivatives
Despite massive global real estate losses, the property derivatives market has been largely ignored, with trading activity focused almost exclusively in the UK. What are the prospects for growth in the asset class? By Peter Madigan
Inflation issuers face Greek fallout
Issuance of sovereign inflation-linked bonds is expected to reach record highs this year as governments struggle with vast fiscal deficits. With investors shaken by the crisis in Greece, however, some issuers may have to draw on the lessons of the crisis…
State benefits for RBS
Jezri Mohideen, head of rates trading for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at RBS, talks to Alexander Campbell
Solving the problem of inflation measures
With fears about future inflation still plaguing investors, inflation-linked products may seem like a sensible way of hedging against the rising cost of living. But the effect of substitution, interest rate rises and timing mean that returns on these…
Product review: Dunbar Bank's FTSE 100 basket
The unrated Dunbar Bank is offering UK investors a five-year, capital-protected growth product linked to 15 of the largest companies in the FTSE 100. A minimum return is on offer and growth can be locked in at each annual anniversaries
Gazprom seals US LNG deal
The world’s largest natural gas company Gazprom has sealed a deal with US-based Sempra Energy that will allow Russia’s energy giant to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to another US receipt terminal and further broaden its client base and its reach in…
Tories plan to phase out UK Renewables Obligation
The Conservative Party has responded to rumours it is preparing to overhaul the UK's renewable energy policy by confirming that, if elected, it will phase out the government's Renewables Obligation scheme.
Second-hand values
The demand for transparency and liquidity makes trading in and out of a structured product extremely attractive to investors. This has resulted in healthy secondary markets across Europe, so why has the UK been so slow to emulate its continental…
Simply does it
Structured products have been used as a scapegoat for some of the problems that led to the financial crisis. But Cater Allen, the UK private banking arm of Santander, says transparent products can regain investors’ confidence. Clare Dickinson reports
Market snapshot
Tim Mortimer of Future Value Consultants looks at the pricing issues for structured products in different markets and provides his trade of the month
BP and CNPC push forward in Iraq despite oil law uncertainty
BP and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have awarded a raft of other energy and commodities companies deals to start drilling and production in the lucrative Iraqi Rumaila oilfield, which they operate, despite the current lack of a petroleum…