Structured Products - 2009-07-01
Articles in this issue
The sovereign guarantee
Even in an era of government-backed banks, it is clear that investors do not equate a public stake with investment security. Those looking for watertight investments have been left with two options - structured deposits or collateralised plans. Will…
Delighted with deposits
Newcastle Building Society has been gradually building up its structured deposit business, including the launch of a new intermediary services arm in 2008. With the FTSE 100 index climbing and deposits backed by the government, the society is right to be…
Commercial property plays
Morgan Stanley surprised many people in July 2008 when it plumped for a commercial property-based product. With lower volatility than was on offer from the FTSE 100, it made for a relatively generous offer of returns that took 65% of the starting level…
Market snapshot
Tim Mortimer of Future Value Consultants looks at the pricing issues for structured products in different markets and provides his trade of the month
National participation
National Bank Financial in Canada hopes a new generation of exchange-traded funds, which break new ground in the way the products work, will prove as popular as leveraged ETFs and propel the bank to another successful year
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Targeting inflation
Inflation expectations might be all over the place, but that has not stopped dealers trying to sell inflation-linked structured products. John Ferry looks at what is on offer from an asset class that has always been trickier than others for structured…
The comeback kids
Last year's double whammy of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy, which trapped investors' money in the defunct bank, and accumulators, where investors were caught going long when the stock market plunged, almost killed off structured products. But as the…
Five years and six options
Barclays Bank has issued a five-year product that allows investors to choose the level of protection required and achieve a higher participation rate if they opt for a lower level. Each of six versions of the product has an option on the FTSE 100
Combining CDSs and equities
Duggan Asset Management is offering exposure to equity and credit markets with its new capital-protected simple growth product. As well as access to an unusual asset class - credit default swaps - participation is linked to the DJ Eurostoxx 50
Product performance
The three products reviewed this month are a principal-protected note, an accelerated growth product and a reverse convertible
The KIS of life?
Keydata Investment Services was placed into a speedy administration by the UK's Financial Services Authority on June 8 on the grounds of insolvency. All new business was suspended and a temporary suspension of payments on policies was imposed by the UK…
Leading lights
As Structured Products magazine celebrates its fifth anniversary, the time is right to take a look back a mere 15-20 years to when it all began, and to interview a selection of 10 pioneers who created and fostered the business from its European…
Small buffer in a big market
JP Morgan issued a dual directional straddle product with a 10% buffer just over a year ago. Relying on nothing more than a slight fall in equity markets over the past 12 months has proved an easy way to erode capital
How we got here
Structured Products editor Richard Jory and launch editor Paul Lyon describe the magazine's development from its early days, while Incisive Media managing director Matthew Crabbe explains how and why the magazine came to life
Victory at last
The seismic movements in the financial markets last year confounded even the experts, as correlation took down every asset class and unwitting trader going. Victor Sperandeo, better known as Trader Vic, talks exclusively on the back of his latest index…
Nordic horizons
Markets in the Nordic region have been far from immune from the troubles that have hit structured products across Europe. But speakers and delegates at the Structured Products Nordic Region conference spoke of light on the horizon - despite the pressing…
