United Kingdom
FVC custom indexes
The three FVC indexes fell between April and May 2010, mirroring the falls in the market’s benchmark indexes
Locking in principal protection
Merchant Capital is offering UK investors an at-risk growth product linked that locks in capital protection should the daily closing be at or above 110% of the initial level. Morgan Stanley is the issuer.
UK Wrap: Vanilla repeats rule the roost
Among the few products launched in the UK during the past two weeks, the popularity of the FTSE 100 is continuing as investors remain nervous
Incapital acquires Blue Sky Asset Management
US investment bank and structured products specialist Incapital will takeover UK distributor Blue Sky Asset Management. Blue Sky's book of plans will be subsumed into Incapital Europe
FTSE strengthens global business with executive hires
FTSE Group has added to its London office with the recruitment of five senior executives
Call for FSA to cut back on consultation documents
UK MP Jonathan Evans asks for a fresh, "simplified" approach on consultation, and fairer implementation of EU directives
UK ETF investors abandoning FTSE 100 in favour of global indexes
The balance of UK investments in ETFs has shifted from the FTSE 100 index towards ETFs based on the S&P 500, MSCI Emerging Markets and Japan in the first quarter of 2010.
FTSE indexes track firms' carbon exposure risk
Two new carbon indexes will enable investors to make investment decisions based on how carbon reduction schemes affect company earnings
Capital gains tax reprieve cheers investors amid budget gloom
The less-than-expected increase in capital gains tax announced by UK chancellor George Osborne means structured products retain their tax-efficient status
Sovereign debt and CDSs: a collection of articles from Risk.net
The world is watching nervously as sovereign debt is rocked by fiscal and economic crises in the eurozone.
UK Wrap: Growth and income products proliferate despite rising volatility
Growth and income plans were by far the most popular style of product over the past three weeks, thereby disproving the previous UK wrap prediction that autocall products would increase in popularity
Market snapshot
Tim Mortimer of Future Value Consultants reviews the product preferences in the US and UK structured products markets
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…
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.