Put options
Linn Energy SEC inquiry sparks hedge accounting debate
Linn Energy, once fêted as a leader in risk management, is under scrutiny by US regulators for its derivatives accounting practices – something that is casting a shadow over other master limited partnerships in the upstream oil and gas business, finds…
A new framework for assessing product complexity
A model of complexity
Experts question shift in Mexico oil hedging strategy
Use of put spreads in oil hedging programme leaves Mexico dangerously exposed to low oil prices if global economy sinks
Luxury goods stocks continue to sparkle in Switzerland
Deutsche Bank says the luxury goods sector is especially promising in the current financial climate, while Bank Vontobel in Switzerland has launched its fifth structured product based on a basket of luxury and fashion goods
Risk Japan: Bank of Japan concerned about wrong-way risk on banks’ cross-holdings
Helping banks by purchasing stock will create moral hazard, says Bank of Japan director-general
Trade of the month: reverse convertibles
Trade of the month: reverse convertibles
Raffeisen Centrobank offers low-barrier reverse convertible
Low barrier to entry
Mexico driving put skew in Brent, say brokers
The put skew in Brent crude oil is close to its yearly high. This is being driven by the hedging programme of Mexico, as well as more general risk aversion on macroeconomic worries, according to brokers
Safety and an early payout
Safety and an early payout
Diggle to re-launch Asia long volatility fund under new vehicle; inflation hedging another target
Stephen Diggle, co-founder of defunct Singapore hedge fund Artradis, which closed after incurring losses of $700 million, will re-launch an Asian long volatility fund under his new vehicle Vulpes Investment Management in May.
Artradis collapse a failure of judgement, not risk management, says co-founder Diggle
Artradis was one of Asia’s most successful hedge funds until it hit difficulties in 2009 and 2010 that resulted in losses of $700 million and culminated in its closure in late February. But the fund’s co-founder says error of judgement and a lack of…
Morgan Stanley Jump
Morgan Stanley has issued Jump Securities, a structured products based on the performance of a basket composed of the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund and the Dow Jones Eurostoxx 50. Principal is not protected and the upside above the target…
FSA chief hits out at structured products
Financial Services Authority (FSA) chairman Callum McCarthy has warned of the dangers of banks selling complicated financial products to customers who do not fully understand them.
Asian basket spreads and other exotic averaging options
Giuseppe Castellacci and Michael Siclari of OpenLink introduce a class of exotic options that simultaneously generalises both Asian and basket options. They develop approximate analytic models for real-time pricing of complex instruments that average…