Foreign exchange
Regulatory risk hits US emissions markets
Worrying regulatory indecision in the US SO2 and NOx markets has angered traders and does not bode well for the implementation of a federal cap and trade scheme, finds Roderick Bruce
Renewed scrutiny for WTI benchmark
The effectiveness of the WTI price benchmark in reflecting the value of global crude oil has once again been brought into question, finds Pauline McCallion
UK needs more transparency around shorting, FSA says
The UK Financial Services Authority today ruled out any permanent restrictions on short-selling stocks today, but said that it planned to force public disclosure of all short positions.
"$78 billion Tarp windfall" for banks
The US Treasury paid banks $78 billion too much for bank stock and warrants under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (Tarp), according to the programme's head of oversight.
Canadian ABCP restructuring finally complete
After 17 months of delays, the saga surrounding the restructuring of C$32 billion ($26.1 billion) of distressed Canadian non-bank asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) has finally drawn to a close.
SNB issues US dollar debt to fund UBS's bad bank
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) will auction its own debt certificates in US dollars to finance its loan to the SNB Stabfund.
CME launches weather contracts for Australia
CME Group is expanding its suite of temperature-based weather derivatives products to include Australian cities Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Swiss Re seeks capital injection after securitisation hit
Zurich-based reinsurer Swiss Re suffered writedowns of SFr 6 billion ($5.1 billion) linked to its legacy securitisation portfolio, according to its preliminary report for 2008.
Deutsche hit by €1.7 billion equity derivatives losses in Q4
Deutsche Bank confirmed a net loss of €4.8 billion for the fourth quarter of 2008, bringing total losses for the year to €3.9 billion, compared with a net income of €6.5 billion in 2007. Year-on-year net revenues for the quarter fell from €7.3 billion in…
Auction sets final settlement values on Sanitec LCDS
An auction run by data vendor Markit and broker Creditex has determined final settlement values for credit derivatives trades referencing Sanitec first- and second-lien loans.
Operational risk experts ponder future of Basel II
The ongoing financial crisis has led risk professionals to question whether the Basel II framework needs to be modified to improve firms' ability to assess and manage risk. And while the general consensus is that revisions are needed, questions remain as…
European CDS regulation 'inevitable' - EC official
Daily news headlines
SGAM AI launches leveraged reverse ETF in Italy
Société Générale Asset Management Alternative Investments (SGAM AI) has released an exchange-traded fund (ETF) with up to 200% leveraged, reverse exposure to the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 index, enhanced by a monetary return. The SGAM ETF XBear Dow Jones…
The fight is on for LCH
US clearing giant, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), insisted on Tuesday that a merger with London-based clearing house LCH.Clearnet would be completed by the end of March, despite a possible rival bid.
Clearing CDS for lift-off
A new single-name North American credit default swap (CDS) contract, due to be launched next month, is expected to bring greater standardisation to the market and pave the way for central clearing.
SEC incompetence and secrecy over Madoff enrages Congress
The fraud examiner who spent eight years warning about Bernard Madoff's alleged Ponzi scheme has blamed institutional incompetence within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
European CDS regulation 'inevitable' - EC official
The European Commission (EC) is moving ahead with plans to enforce central clearing of credit default swaps (CDSs), despite a plea by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) to resume dialogue on the issue.
ECX to launch spot contracts in March
The European Climate Exchange (ECX) and ICE Futures Europe will launch daily futures contracts for EUA and CER emissions credits "sometime in March", according to ECX CEO Patrick Birley.
The fight is on for LCH
US clearing giant The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has insisted that a merger with London-based clearing house LCH.Clearnet would be completed by the end of March, despite a possible rival bid.