Risk magazine
BIS: decline slowing on derivatives exchanges
Volumes continued to fall on international derivatives exchanges this year, but there are signs of recovery, according to the latest figures from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), released today.
Credit Suisse strengthens Asia-Pacific equity derivatives
Credit Suisse has appointed Min Park and Ken Pang as co-heads of equity derivatives and convertibles for the Asia-Pacific region. Both men will be based in Hong Kong and report to Osama Abbasi, head of Asia-Pacific equities.
Derman: Overreliance on modelling "the biggest sin"
Modelling of collateralised debt obligations had descended into "a dark secret love of inappropriate mathematical elegance" in the months leading up to the financial crisis, according to Emanuel Derman, head of risk at US investment firm Prisma Capital…
Swedish banks' CDS spreads widen
The cost of credit protection on Swedish financials rose sharply in early European trading today, as concerns over loans made to Latvia grew.
FSA official warns banks off buying securitised products
Banks will have to review their motivations for buying securitised products, a leading official at the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) has warned.
Toxic loan PPIP purchases postponed, feared dead
The purchase of distressed whole loans using taxpayer funds under the US Treasury's Public-Private Investment Program (PPIP) has been postponed, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has announced, raising speculation that the scheme might be…
Berkovitz named CFTC general counsel
Dan Berkovitz has taken over the role of general counsel at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) at the request of Gary Gensler, the regulator's recently appointed chairman.
CDS spreads tighten on US commodity firms
The cost of credit protection on Texas-based oil and gas companies fell in early European trading today, while spreads tightened on US financials.
OMG commits to new clearing and reporting targets
The Operations Management Group (OMG) on June 2 outlined its latest targets to improve the operational infrastructure of the over-the-counter derivatives industry.
Credit market won't be fazed by GM bankruptcy, say analysts
Despite its size, the largest industrial bankruptcy in US corporate history is unlikely to have much of an effect on the credit derivatives markets, suggest analysts.
Credit Suisse hires investment banking head for Americas
James Walker has joined Credit Suisse as head of investment banking operations for the Americas and head of global over-the-counter operations.
CIBC appoints new global head of structuring
Canadian bank CIBC has appointed Bill Bamber as global head of structuring. He will be responsible for the bank's multi-asset structuring group.
Banks' CDS spreads narrow
Market sentiment improved towards European and US financials in European and Asian trading today.
UK pension BPA market to halve in 2009, predicts LCP
The market for transferring UK pension scheme risk to an insurance company could fall to £4 billion this year, which would be approximately half the level of 2008, according to a report published today by London-based actuarial consultancy Lane Clark &…
Cap it all
The European Commission published a new set of rules for hedge funds and private equity funds in April. What will new limits on leverage and capital mean for managers accustomed to operating with relative freedom? By Alexander Campbell
In search of the gold standard
Data is fundamental to enterprise risk management systems. Some banks have looked to build single, consistent central sources of information for risk analysis, but how are they tackling this task? Is this goal even achievable? By Clive Davidson
With a bang
Isda's big bang protocol has standardised the credit default swap market, giving buy-side credit firms a voice but also stripping some flexibility from the market. However, the new regime is posing some challenges for end-users. Peter Madigan reports
Playing catch up
With extreme volatility and liquidity concerns hitting Russia in the second half of 2008, large cracks were exposed in the country's bank risk management practices. Alexey Simanovsky, director of banking regulation and supervision at the Bank of Russia,…
Risk institutional investor rankings 2009
Dealer bankruptcies, government intervention, unprecedented volatility and a dearth of liquidity have made the past 12 months among the most challenging for institutional investors. In this difficult environment, investors have voted Goldman Sachs the…