Structured products
WHAT IS THIS? Structured products are investments that have multiple components. For retail investors, the most common form is a bond plus an option – these tend to be standardised, sold in small tickets and large volumes. Managing the risks of large structured products portfolios is one of the biggest challenges dealers face.
Macquarie may close structured products business in Europe
Macquarie is considering shutting its structured products and exotics business in Europe as a result of unfavourable market conditions. The alarm bells were sounded were last December, when Todd Steinberg, global head of structured products left the bank
Structured products linked to real assets and credit back on the menu in Italy
The Italian structured products market is seeing a pick-up as institutional investors demand exposure to physical assets and credit
Nordic region sees surge in demand for credit and commodity-linked products
Tough equity markets are driving increased demand for credit exposure and cross-asset baskets in the Nordic region, where a stronger risk appetite is in evidence
Sarfati to move on as Société Générale rings the changes
Arnaud Sarfati will leave SG CIB after the latest restructure, which sees the number of co-heads at the bank dramatically reduced
Investors turn to utilities, gold and dividends for stable returns as equities sink
Poor equity market performance is driving investors into alternative asset classes such as utilities, gold and dividends in the search for stable returns
Belgium's structured products moratorium hastens rise in private banking activity
Belgian banks are targeting private clients with structured products that do not comply with the Financial Services and Markets Authority's moratorium, say market participants
JVB Financial hires Tessar to help drive distribution expansion
John Tessar will add his 15 years' structured products experience to JVB Financial's expansion drive in North America
RBS cash equities exit could hike hedging costs
RBS will have to pay more to hedge vega from its equity derivatives business after losing offsets provided by cash, rivals say
UK FSA asked to broaden scope and improve clarity in retail product development and governance consultation
The deadline for responses to the Financial Services Authority's latest consultation on structured products fell yesterday, January 11. Responses have requested a broader scope and more clarity
People: Luc Francois leaves Morgan Stanley
People: Luc Francois leaves Morgan Stanley
Investec on the hunt for high-net-worth market
The big beast boutique
Risk Return Italia: slowdown in secondary bond market hits structured products
Out with the new, in with the old
Structured products house of the year: BNP Paribas
Risk awards 2012
Low rates to favour equity-linked securities in South Korea this year
The popularity of equity-linked securities is set to remain strong in South Korea as investors seek yield enhancement to combat low interest and deposit rates
Scoach boosts trading volumes despite volatile markets
European structurers have had to grapple with the effects of a declining structured products market and higher buy-back ratios, according to Scoach
US investors target low-volatility stocks to mitigate risks of investing in volatility
US market sees large inflows into strategies that seek to offset risks of investing in volatility
High-net-worth investors in India turn to alternative assets, says report
Access to alternative assets gaining popularity among high net worth investors in India, says report
EDHEC and SocGen release rationale for structured products in Asia
EDHEC and SocGen reveal all on Asian volatility
UK distributors to adopt discretionary model in response to Retail Distribution Review
The UK structured products industry could become “a market of marketers and discretionary managers”, industry warns
New consolidated platform launch to boost Asian ELN market efficiency
The launch by Bloomberg of a centralised price discovery platform for equity-linked notes in Asia sets out to bring easier and more efficient access to ELN pricing information
Trade of the month: Bonus structure
Trade of the month: Bonus structure
Profile: Fortinbras Asset Management
Fitting form to function
Profile: Pershing
Pershing to the front