News/Risk management
Risk ’s quant of the year backs Buffett
Peter Carr, recipient of Risk 's 2003 quant of the year award, said that in a [hypothetical] argument between quants convinced of the infallibility of their models and derivatives sceptics such as Warren Buffett, he would probably side with Buffett.
Opportunities exist for credit arbitrage in Asia, says Lehman
There are significant opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region for hedge funds employing credit and capital structure arbitrage, and a growing number of firms are starting to consider these strategies in the region, according to Dalip Awasthi, Tokyo…
Greenspan defends role of derivatives
In a speech today, Alan Greenspan, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, defended the use of derivatives as hedging tools, especially credit derivatives. His comments come in the wake of Warren Buffett’s criticism of derivatives as potential “time bombs”.
Algo teams up with Agena to solve op risk data history issue
Canadian risk management technology supplier Algorithmics has teamed up with UK software company Agena to help institutions to model operational risk better.
State Treasury of Finland joins growing Trema client list
Swedish technology firm Trema added to its growing list of eurosystem clients last week, with the announcement that the State Treasury of Finland has implemented Trema's Finance Kit to manage state debt.
US-based Basel opponents cry "foul" on commercial real estate
Small and medium-sized US banks will be hit hard by the treatment of commercial real estate under the proposed revisions to the Basel Accord, according to Sarah Moore, chief operating officer of the Colonial Bank Group, a regional US bank, at…
"Substantial flaws still remain" in Basel II, says CSFB's Ervin
"While there is much to admire in the new [Basel II] rules, there are also many elements that raise serious concern," said Wilson Ervin, a managing director and head of the firm's strategic risk management department of Credit Suisse First Boston, who…
US deadlines for regulatory proposals revealed
The US plans to kick its Basel II regulation machine into gear fairly quickly, according to a source with regulatory connections.
US regulators restrict Basel II adoption amid agency infighting
In Congressional hearings on February 27, top US bank regulators sharply criticised the proposed Basel Accord revisions, and used their criticisms to justify plans to apply the new set of international banking regulations to only the top 10 banks in the…
FASB's stock option rules spur pricing model developments
Academics and consultants are rushing to bring out new equity option pricing models in the wake of the controversy surrounding the US Financial Accounting Standard's Board (FASB) rule 123 on accounting for stock-based compensation.
Formation of WBOT blows off course
Atlanta-based Weather Board of Trade (WBOT) has missed its planned February 2003 launch date, and its viability has been called into a question by a number of market participants. The online weather derivatives exchange originally planned to launch in…
FASB's stock option rules spur pricing model developments
Academics and consultants are rushing to bring out new equity option pricing models in the wake of the controversy surrounding the US Financial Accounting Standard’s Board (FASB) rule 123 on accounting for stock-based compensation. FASB is expected to…
US regulators restrict Basel II adoption amid agency infighting
In Congressional hearings yesterday, top US bank regulators sharply criticised the proposed Basel Accord revisions, and used their criticisms to justify plans to apply the new set of international banking regulations to only the top 10 banks in the…
Fitch acquires IC2 First op risk database
Fitch Risk, a division of rating agency Fitch Ratings, has acquired the IC2 First (financial institutions risk scenario trends) database from financial services provider, Zurich Financial Services Group.
Mercer snaps up Oliver Wyman
Mercer, a consulting division of New York-listed Marsh & McLennan, has bought specialist risk management and financial service practice consultants Oliver Wyman & Company for an undisclosed sum.
Basel Committee Releases New Operational Risk Sound Practices Paper
The Risk Management Group of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision today released the final 'Sound Practices for the Management and Supervision of Operational Risk'.
South Korea reclassifies ELNs and warrants
South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economics (MOFE) has reclassified equity-linked notes (ELNs) and warrants as securities under the country's revised Securities and Exchange Act, according to an official at the MOFE. The move – which came into effect…
BIS paper advocates macroprudential regulation
A new paper published on the Bank for International Settlements website attempts to alter perceptions of financial institution regulation by looking at the discipline through a macroprudential framework.
EU Parliamentary hearings raise a variety of issues
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament held a public hearing on Tuesday, Febaruary 19, titled "Minimum Capital Requirements for Banks and Investment Firms (Basel II)".