On risky ground

A growing number of banks are now offering structured credit products to the retail market, but some dealers question whether retail investors fully understand the risks involved. Mia Trinephi reports

Until recently, buyers of structured credit products in Asia formed an exclusive club comprising a handful of sophisticated fund managers. Now, structured credit has become one of the fastest growing market sectors, with interest filtering down as far as retail investors. To tap this burgeoning demand, a growing number of banks are starting to target retail investors with an array of structured credit products, from credit-linked notes to first-to-default baskets. But while this sector may offer