United Kingdom
Trade of the month: Secondary trading
The secondary trading of structured products in the UK is limited by low liquidity, which is partly due to bid-offer spreads that are wide enough to deter investors. While most providers of retail structured products in the UK publish prices throughout…
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
UK Wrap: Walker Crips offers new at risk growth plan
There was a bumper issuance of 24 structured products last week, thanks mainly to Investec launching its 11th collection of plans.
UK wrap: Meteor bursts forth with an at risk kickout plan
Meteor blazed a lone trail in a week that was dominated by the re-launch of three Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) notes.
UK Wrap: Emerging Markets and bonds appear as underlyings
MSS has launched its first structured product in the UK market, offering a 100% capital protection. The six-year investment gives 100% participation in an equally-weighted basket consisting of four underlyings - subject to a maximum return of 45% growth.
Commercial property plays
Morgan Stanley surprised many people in July 2008 when it plumped for a commercial property-based product. With lower volatility than was on offer from the FTSE 100, it made for a relatively generous offer of returns that took 65% of the starting level…
Delighted with deposits
Newcastle Building Society has been gradually building up its structured deposit business, including the launch of a new intermediary services arm in 2008. With the FTSE 100 index climbing and deposits backed by the government, the society is right to be…
UK Treasury Committee criticises FSA approach to bonuses
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FSA warns firms to address swine flu
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"People should be very frightened of the FSA" warns Hector Sants
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UK Banking Act comes into force
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Hedge funds grilled by UK Treasury committee
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UK announces second bank rescue package
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UK retail banking faces FSA supervision
Regulatory News
The transparency tide
The issue of counterparty risk and how best to convey it to retail investors dominated the agenda at the Structured Products Europe conference. Delegates explored ways of identifying and mitigating risk, while the rise in structured funds and regulation…
Stepping stones
Risk-averse retail investors are shying away from fully regulated sales products that are capital at risk in favour of deposits. But structured products provide a natural stepping stone for Yorkshire Building Society to bridge this gap while delivering…
UK sets up financial industry think-tanks
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