Buy side
NatWest’s PB chief on not changing course after Archegos
Marcus Butt believes diversity of clients, both in size and type, is the best way to manage risk
Firms doubt benefits of EU Mifid best execution reform
Esma proposal retains unpopular aggregated reporting; bankers want more cost-benefit analysis
Machines say: ‘Ignore the spread in merger arb’
Closely watched arbitrage spread poor predictor of a merger deal’s success, quant firm finds
EU consolidated bond tape could boost all-to-all trading
Greater confidence in pricing may also have eased Covid liquidity crunch, says Dimensional exec
Don’t bank on it: Fed urged to widen access to new repo facility
Central clearing of SRF’s repos and less unease over its use could also buoy glitchy Treasury market
Phase five margin queues spur calls for custody revamp
Custodians urged to update “antiquated technology” ahead of three-fold jump in phase six initial margin onboarding
BNP hits top spot for FX options
Counterparty Radar: French bank ousts long-time leader Citi as biggest dealer for mutual funds
Morgan Stanley bests Citi as top forwards shop for US funds
Counterparty Radar: A $30bn boost from Vanguard sends MS to top of Q2 charts
Amundi, Axa urge boardroom pay cuts for climate laggards
Link remuneration to carbon-emission goals and companies will get serious, say large investors
Why new EU rules are fuelling greenwashing and how to stop it
Reporting requirements for ESG funds may not solve the problem – a list of harmful investments might
OTC derivatives clearing: no turning back
Clearing advocates have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the future
Green bonds risk failing TLAC test
Europe’s banks – in their scramble to issue ethical debt – butt up against tough rules on loss-absorbing capital
Quant funds tackle chronic overfitting in crypto strategies
Firms adapt backtests and tread lightly to address “huge” overfitting risk, magnified by scarce data
Jumbo trades propel BNPP, TD up forwards rankings
Counterparty Radar: In Q1 2021 data, outsiders are eating into US banks’ business with domestic funds
Renminbi splurge lifts BNPP, MSIM in Q1 options data
Counterparty Radar: Morgan Stanley IM is largest options user, following series of huge renminbi calls
An old model can shed new light on how flows shape prices
Market microstructure theory may also explain long-term patterns in stock markets
Big US managers diverge on CDS sales
Counterparty Radar: Pimco’s sold positions surge 80%, as PGIM and others retreat
Abu Dhabi fund lures top quants for burgeoning team
StanChart analytics head joins Lopez de Prado at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Banks lure FX algo sharks into shallow waters
Sick of losing out to predatory HFTs, dealers are trying to create liquidity pools they can trust
CME pulls client default rule change after pushback
FCMs claim proposal gave clearing house too much power in customer defaults
GFXC set to tackle reject codes
Co-vice-chair Neill Penney says group will seek to bring clarity to codes assigned to rejected FX trades
AI helps one investor screen targets against UN ethical goals
PanAgora develops two-stage process that aims to weed out the greenwashers
The sticky question of Europe’s oil-ridden ESG funds
NN Investment Partners SFDR fund holds 91% of investments in oil and gas companies
FX option selling and weak demand behind vol slide, say traders
EUR/USD vol inches towards pre-Covid lows, but some believe inflation could upset trend