Risk magazine
CDS spreads widen on automakers
The cost of credit protection on Japanese automakers fell in European trading today, while also dropping on US and European financials.
New FASB standards threaten off-balance-sheet vehicles
The US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has completed new rules on off-balance-sheet holdings that will compel US companies to consolidate on balance sheet billions of dollars of assets previously kept in special-purpose entities (SPEs).
CDS spreads tighten on financials
The cost of credit protection on US financials continued to fall in European trading today, while sentiment was also positive towards European banks.
CDS spreads tighten on US banks
The cost of credit protection on US financials fell in European trading today.
Insurer CDS spreads tighten on Tarp promise
Market sentiment improved significantly towards US insurers after the Treasury granted permission to a select number of firms to raise billions of dollars through the government's Troubled Asset Relief Programme (Tarp).
Société Générale promotes Cassot as Joubert departs for BarCap
Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking (SG CIB) has appointed Vincent Cassot as head of equity derivatives research, after previous head Arnaud Joubert left the bank to join Barclays Capital.
Isda's Handjinicolaou moves to Hellenic Capital Markets Commission
George Handjinicolaou, the deputy chief executive officer and regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, has joined the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission (HCMC).
CDSs on European and US banks continue to widen
The cost of credit protection on financial institutions increased today across Europe and the US. The move came after the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report showed UK GDP growth was slower than expected in the first quarter of 2009 yesterday,…
Morgan Stanley fined over $120m mismark
The UK Financial Services Authority has fined Morgan Stanley £1.4 million for failing to supervise one of its prop traders, allowing him to mismark a portfolio of illiquid credit products by $120 million last year.
Regulators and exchanges prepare for boom in carbon trading
As the Obama administration moves closer to introducing a cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse gases, US regulators and other players are preparing for steep growth in the emissions market.
European CDS dealers closer to restructuring solution
European derivatives dealers have agreed on a provisional framework to integrate restructuring as a credit event into the auction process for the cash settlement of credit default swaps (CDSs), taking the market a step closer to central clearing.
Geithner calls for law change to force OTC derivatives clearing
The US Treasury called upon Congress yesterday to amend the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA) to compel the "clearing of all standardised over-the-counter derivatives through regulated central counterparties".
UK inflation will stay low for some time, BoE says
UK inflation will drop below the Bank of England's (BoE) 2% target later this year and remain there "for the medium term", the central bank said in its quarterly inflation report, published today.
Auction finds General Growth Properties LCDS worth 44.25%
An auction held on May 13 determined a final settlement value of 44.25 cents on the dollar for loan-only credit default swaps (LCDSs) referencing Chicago-based shopping mall owner General Growth Properties; the company opted to restructure its debt under…
BoE inflation report pushes CDSs on European financials wider
The cost of credit protection on European financials increased this morning following the release of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report. The report conceded UK GDP growth had been slower than expected in the first quarter of 2009, and…
Selling pressure lifts on dividends
Implied dividends of European stocks, derived from the prices of dividend swaps on the DJ Eurostoxx 50 index, have rallied sharply, reflecting growing confidence about the future of the equity market.
Ambac makes $1.539bn derivatives gain
Ambac reported a massive $1.539 billion mark-to-market gain on credit default swaps (CDSs) in the first quarter – an upswing largely due to its own deteriorating financial condition.
CDSs on US financials narrow
Market sentiment towards US banks improved today, with the cost of credit protection on six of the nation's largest financial institutions falling. The move came on the same day Bank of America (BoA) was reported to have raised $7.3 billion from selling…
Bowater worth 15%, according to credit derivatives auction
An auction held on May 12 determined a final settlement value of 15% for credit default swaps (CDSs) referencing North American newsprint manufacturer Bowater, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 16.
UK Treasury: "vital" to expand resolution powers for investment banks
The UK government needs to update its approach to resolving failed investment banks in the wake of the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September last year, according to a Treasury report published today.
CDSs on US banks widen
The cost of credit protection on US banks increased this morning, having fallen - in some cases by as much as 50 basis points - on Friday after the announcement of the US government's stress-test results last week.
Stress test results boost CDSs on financials
In early US trading on Friday, the cost of credit protection on financial institutions fell markedly following yesterday's publication of stress test results by the US government. In contrast to earlier pessimistic predictions - some of which had…
AIG trims loss in Q1
Insurance giant AIG reported a net loss in the first quarter of 2009 of $4.35 billion. While undoubtedly a poor result, it at least marked something of an improvement from its fourth-quarter 2008 result when it reported a loss of $61.7 billion - the…
Primus explores new CDPC model
Primus Guaranty, the Bermuda-based credit derivatives product company (CDPC) and asset manager, is looking into the possibility of setting up a new entity to sell credit protection, but unlike its existing business model, the new venture would post…