Risk magazine
BoJ plans to inject $34bn to aid corporate funding
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has become the latest central bank to unveil plans aimed at bolstering the corporate debt market, with plans to buy up to ¥3 trillion ($33.7 billion) of outstanding commercial paper (CP) to help ease funding pressure suffered by…
Thain departs BoA within a month of merger
John Thain, Merrill Lynch's former chairman and chief executive, is the second investment banking head to leave Bank of America (BoA) since the two banks' merger closed on January 1.
Cash-settlement auctions working, says Isda
The auction process for cash-settling credit derivatives trades has been tested recently but is working well, said Bob Pickel, chief executive of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, at a symposium held by the organisation in New York on…
ABN Amro claims second victim in Fortis
Benelux bank Fortis today revealed a net loss of €14.1 billion for the first nine months of 2008, due mainly to its acquisition of parts of ABN Amro.
CDSs widen on European insurers
The cost of credit protection on European insurance and reinsurance companies rose in this morning's trading.
SHKF buys back clients' minibonds
Hong Kong-based Sun Hung Kai Financial (SHKF) has agreed to buy back all the Lehman Brothers credit-linked minibonds it sold to retail investors. The decision follows an investigation by the territory's Securities and Futures Commission into possible mis…
Trading book capital must be "several times" higher, FSA says
Capital requirements for assets held on the trading book should be "several times" higher than at present, according to the chairman of the UK Financial Services Authority, Adair Turner.
Citi replaces chairman
Citi has named Richard Parsons, lead director and chair of the board's nomination and governance committee, as the successor to its chairman, Win Bischoff, effective February 23.
S&P unveils CDS indexes
Index provider Standard & Poor's Index Services (S&P) has launched three US credit default swap (CDS) indexes designed to evaluate the performance of the credit derivatives market.
UBS exits exotic structured products business in FICC
UBS is shutting down its exotic structured products business within its fixed income, commodities and currencies (FICC) division.
Fund-linked hedging bolsters redemption requests
The rise in redemptions across the hedge fund industry is being exacerbated by the hedging of fund-linked options and constant proportion portfolio insurance (CPPI) products, according to dealers.
Buy-side firms scramble to meet novation deadline
Derivatives technology vendors have reported a significant upturn in activity among buy-side firms, looking to meet a February 28 deadline for processing all credit derivatives novation consents through electronic platforms.
King lays out details of Bank of England debt purchases
The Bank of England will start to buy up corporate debt and commercial paper within the next few weeks, governor Mervyn King announced last night.
UBS names Japan country head and Asia vice-chairman
UBS has named Toshiharu Kojima as its first-ever country head for Japan, as well as chairman and chief executive of UBS Securities in Tokyo. Timothy Chia will become Asia vice-chairman of the investment banking division in Singapore.
CDSs widen on Australian banks, Spanish energy
The cost of credit protection on Spanish energy firms and Australian banks soared in early trading this morning while market sentiment towards US auto makers improved.
Sovereign CDSs at record levels
The cost of credit protection on the sovereign debt of Spain, Portugal and Ireland reached all-time highs in intraday trading this morning.
Marsh appoints Hong Kong chairman
US insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh has hired insurance industry veteran Kenneth Kwok in the newly created role of Hong Kong chairman. His role will include developing new relationships in the local business community and strengthening the…
CFTC names temporary chief
Michael Dunn, one of the commissioners of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has been elected as interim chairman.
DTCC to publish more CDS data
The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the largest derivatives clearing house in the US, is to expand the data it publishes on the credit derivatives market.
UBS "reprioritises" commodity business
UBS today agreed to purchase the commodity index business of AIG Financial Products Corporation for $15 million plus an earnout, after confirming the sale of its base metals, oil and US power and gas businesses to Barclays Capital on Friday.
Banks tighten conditions on revolving credit extensions
More stringent terms and conditions are being attached to revolving credit facilities (RCFs), although banks are still extending them to investment-grade corporates. Analysts and bankers agree that RCFs are becoming more expensive and smaller and will…
Basel Committee prepares to raise capital requirements with 'stressed VAR' test
Banks may face significantly higher regulatory capital requirements under proposed changes to the Basel II capital adequacy rules released today.
Massive writedowns expose failure of RBS' ABN Amro takeover
Ahead of its 2008 results announcement next month, Royal Bank of Scotland has warned of £28 billion in writedowns and losses, much of it associated with the 2007 takeover of parts of the Dutch bank ABN Amro. The UK government has again stepped in to help…
CDSs widen on Spanish banks
The cost of credit protection on a wide range of firms fell in early trading today, while spreads widened on Spanish financials and US sovereign debt.