CCP
WHAT IS THIS? A central counterparty (CCP) manages default risk by collecting initial and variation margin from both parties to a trade. Spill-over losses are absorbed via a default fund to which all members contribute – introducing a degree of mutualised risk – and by the CCP’s own capital. The concept is an old one that was extended to over-the-counter derivatives in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Clearing members fear CFTC bending rules for crypto
Critics warn new framework for Bitnomial and LedgerX could undermine clearing integrity
Council of the EU resists centralised clearing house supervision
Esma wants more powers, but member states will only agree to provide it with more information
Clearing members cheer plan for more transparency on CCP margin
European Parliament wants to amend Emir 3.0 draft to put extra obligations on clearing houses
Citi and JP Morgan vie to extend collateral optimisation to CCPs
High rates and increasing collateral requirements have ignited race for greater efficiency
On the recovery tools of a central counterparty
The author argues that assessments should be preferred over variation margin gains haircutting when CCP resilience is tested by cases of default loss being greater than prefunded financial resources.
IM surges at LCH following CDS users’ shift from ICEU
Figures for Q3 show 16% jump at Paris-based CDSClear
Bloating CCP default funds. New margin models. Are the two linked?
Dealers grumble that greater guaranty fund payments could undermine the ‘defaulter pays’ principle of clearing
Holes in the netting: the limits of CME-FICC cross-margin deal
Big margin savings for some, but more needed to ease pressure of UST clearing mandate
Clearing members sour further on cash for IM collateral
Sovereign bonds remain preferred choice at top CCPs in Q3
SA-CCR charges double at OCBC in Q3
Singaporean bank’s counterparty credit risk up 28% to multi-year high
LCH-JSCC basis turns negative on BoJ policy shift
Changes in hedge fund positioning at LCH seen as driver of inversion on 20-year swaps
Concentration risk ticks up at large CCPs
Top five clearing members accounted for almost half IM and open positions in Q3
JSCC’s initial margin hit all-time high in Q3
Requirements at ETP cash securities unit up fivefold, OSE-listed ETP service grows to record size
Geopolitics is harsh terrain for FMIs
Idiosyncratic nature of disputes and flare-ups leaves exchange and infrastructure operators blending metrics with guesswork
FMIs get busy, as supervisors circle
Via new roles and controls, exchanges and clearers hope to “get ahead” of regulatory wave
On cyber, FMIs seek to avoid being weapons of mass disruption
Controls focus on basic cyber hygiene, but communicating the risk remains a challenge
Regulators pushing CCPs and exchanges on op risk
Op Risk Benchmarking: In latest batch of data, FMIs report growing scrutiny, plus watchdog asks for stress tests, monitoring and more
CFTC sounds the alarm on clearing capacity
US regulator warns porting cannot be guaranteed in the event of a large member default
NSCC had top margin breach of $1.2bn in Q3
Margin shortfall is largest on record for the CCP and bucks wider trend across global clearing houses
Banxico waiver prompts rethink on benchmark transition plans
Dealers weigh basis risk against longer-dated swap hedges as CME consults on new conversion plan
HSBC leads global uptick in OTC derivatives clearing
Systemic banks cleared record €250 trillion in notionals in 2022
Industry confused by EU’s ‘bingo card’ clearing rules
Uncertainty over definition of representative trades in Emir active account requirement
Clearing members combing rule books after LME lawsuit win
Industry debates whether other CCPs and exchanges would cancel trades if faced with similar crisis
Hard concentration: clearing members want clarity from CCPs
FCMs complain they struggle to pass opaque margin calculations through to end-clients