Governments and agencies
A race against the future - how governments are tackling the issue of rising state pension costs
Reforming state pensions is a top priority in Europe as governments attempt to plug huge deficits exacerbated by the global financial crisis. Andrew Sheen examines the current state of European pensions
Finra scrutinises muni-bond market; US Treasury creates Consumer Financial Protection Agency
The US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra) has launched an investigation into financial institutions' underwriting derivatives contracts used by US municipals to finance debt at lower costs.
Return of the linker
Inflation
US municipal market faces clean-up under new rules
The municipal bond market in the US is still largely in a state of disarray, well over a year after the collapse of the auction rate securities (ARS) sector, though signs of recovery are visible in the fixed-rated debt market, congressmen have heard.
ADB highlights risks posed by growth of local bond markets
Sovereign bond sales will increase significantly this year
Misery for municipals
A year on from the collapse of the auction rate securities market, short-term variable-rate financing in the US remains scarce. In 2009, municipal issuers face surging costs and low interest rates most can't access. By Peter Madigan
US muni debt now priced as riskier than corporates
Protection on US municipal debt is currently more costly than that on US investment-grade corporate bonds. Spreads on Markit's five-year MCDX index, which references credit default swaps (CDS) on municipal bonds, were at 275 basis points as of December…
Jefferson County head indicted on bribery, money laundering charges
The Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, has been charged with 101 counts including bribery, money laundering, mail and wire fraud pertaining to the award of lucrative bond transaction and swap agreement servicing contracts in exchange for financial kick-backs,…
Beware the Russian bear
The tables have turned on the Russian debt markets. After a splurge of corporate issuance in the last three years, the latter half of this year has proven a tough time for the country's financial markets. Falling oil prices, the Georgian conflict,…
Investors caught short by auction rate meltdown
Investors badly misjudged the risks posed by auction rate securities (ARS), and the willingness of dealers to keep supporting the market in the event of a liquidity drought, a new report has shown.
The sewers of Jefferson County
Auction-rate Securities
Where credit's due
Japan's public sector
Eine stille Revolution
LÄnderrisiko
A quiet revolution
Governments have traditionally kept their limited use of derivatives close to their chests. But some sovereigns are now broadening their mandates to encompass a wider array of risks and they are increasingly turning to the derivatives markets. By Navroz…
Powering up its bond markets
Russia
The German deficit dilemma
German municipalities are turning to the derivatives market to manage the interest rate risks on their massive deficits. Will these instruments relieve their problems or add to them? Rachel Wolcott investigates
After the storm
Cover Story
Inflated expectations?
Debt agencies
The world turns to hedging
Introduction