Derivatives and the Italian inquisition

“The Banca d’Italia wants to ban derivatives products – it really is like they believe they are the instruments of the devil.” This view from a leading international bank in Milan is not an uncommon sentiment. Since the collapse of Parmalat in December 2003 there has been something like an inquisition by Italian market regulators into anything that looks like a complex financial transaction. Above all, the Banca d’Italia has been clamping down on retail market structured products.

p16-sour-gif

Under Article 129 of the 1993 Banking Consolidation Act, the Banca d’Italia has supervisory powers over all capital transfers or flows of money totalling €50 million or more. Even before Parmalat, and Cirio, the major Italian corporate scandal of recent years, Banca d’Italia was apt to invoke its powers under Article 129 to restrict the terms product structurers could offer. For example, in 2003 it capped the coupons structured products could offer at 200% of the Libor rate

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Risk.net? View our subscription options

Register

Want to know what’s included in our free membership? Click here

This address will be used to create your account

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here