Credit default swaps

Struck off

Credit default swaps (CDSs) offer protection against issuer default, and in general the protection is paid via a running spread rather than upfront. When the par spread changes, the contract cannot be unwound without leaving a default-contingent annuity…

Rocked by counterparty risk

The demise of Lehman Brothers has triggered fresh concerns about counterparty risk, creating a wave of novations and forcing dealers to think harder about the possibility of another major derivatives counterparty defaulting. Mark Pengelly reports

EC demands centralised clearing by year end

At a meeting with industry groups and regulators on October 22, the European Commissioner for internal markets and services, Charlie McCreevy, outlined his intentions to move credit derivatives away from the over-the-counter (OTC) market and under…

CDS spreads tighten as bailout is revised

The cost of protection on some of the world’s largest financial institutions fell yesterday as the US Senate agreed to vote on a revised version of the $700 billion financial rescue plan.

O Brothers, where art thou?

The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, coming on the back of the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sent market participants rushing to compute their exposures and replace affected hedges. How did the market bear up? By Peter Madigan and Nick…

CDS spreads continue to tighten

Credit default swap (CDS) spreads on financial institutions had tightened further by close of play on September 19, as market confidence continued to rise after large injections of cash from central banks

CDS spreads continue to widen

Credit default swap (CDS) spreads on financial institutions have continued to widen, despite the bailout of US insurer American International Group (AIG) by the US Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday.

Fannie and Freddie CDS to settle at October auction

The auction process to settle credit default swap (CDS) contracts written against Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will take place in the first week of October, Risk has learned, although losses on the agreements are likely to be minor for most counterparties.

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