Risk magazine - December 2013
Articles in this issue
Yellen faces a logistical nightmare
The impending transition from Ben Bernanke to Janet Yellen at the US Federal Reserve is taking place at a particularly sensitive time, argues David Rowe – the new chair faces the logistical nightmare of unwinding a massive increase in the central bank’s…
Risk management sweatshops? Number-crunchers move to satellite offices
From Berlin to Birmingham, from Tampa Bay to Dallas, banks have tried to boost their risk management resources – while keeping a lid on expense – by building teams in relatively low-cost cities. But do these far-flung offices improve performance? Joe…
ROE hurdles cause pricing impasse
In the Basel III world, traders know their business must deliver a target return on equity, or risk being shut down – but working out the capital cost, or benefit, of a trade at inception is so difficult that banks only have approximations to guide them…
Review of 2013: Grave new world
From collapsing equity repo rates to footnote 88, and from the leverage ratio to new clearing house liquidity rules, the year has been full of surprises, many of them unpleasant. By the end of 2013, an industry that had seemed to be back on its feet was…
Risk software survey 2013
Change from above
Fear the repo: funds face up to rate-contingent liquidity risks
As interest rates rise, big fixed-rate receivers such as pension funds will all slide out-of-the-money at the same time, potentially triggering huge margin calls. Some are already trying to soften the blow, rather than relying on a repo market that could…
IASB: Liquidity buffers seek a safe home
Fair-value friend
Europe set for swap futures shoot-out
Up to eight venues are gearing up to launch interest rate swap futures in Europe – each with a different take on the product. What does the market make of their chances? Tom Osborn reports
Exemptions in the balance as Volcker debate draws to a close
Two years on from its first draft, the Volcker rule is close to being finalised, but some regulators are still trying to close what they see as loopholes – and dealers see as vital freedoms
Risk technology rankings 2013: Regulatory revamps
Adapt and comply
People: BNP Paribas to take RBS staff in structured products deal
The French bank will house up to 600 RBS staff after winning auction; SG CIB provides new CEO for Newedge; US futures business at Deutsche gets new boss; JP Morgan promotes divisional CFOs; SGX splits regulatory and risk roles
Why collateral research misses the point
There may be an aggregate collateral surplus, but pension funds and other firms that would face big margin calls in a rising-rate environment are not reassured
In-depth intro: Risk management
From Berlin to Birmingham, risk functions are increasingly relying on low-level number crunchers in low-cost locations
Cutting Edge introduction: fixing FVA
The funding valuation adjustment (FVA) is the biggest controversy of recent times in quantitative finance. Now the authors of the original FVA paper are back – and think there may be a solution. Laurie Carver introduces this month’s technical articles
Custody Risk December 2013
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