Indexes
Keydata launches seventeenth tranche of growth plan
Keydata, the UK structured products distributor, has launched issue 17 of its Dynamic Growth Plan Plus. The plan gives investors who may have lost significant amounts of money over the last 18 months with traditional long only managers a chance to…
US wrap: RBC confirms reverse convertible rally
The reverse convertible flood has continued in the US market, largely helped by Royal Bank of Canada which has just launched 16 of the notes. Barclays has launched an additional two notes, bringing its total to 35 for the latest bout of issuance, ABN…
RBS and Sip Nordic storm UK IFA market
Royal Bank of Scotland has partnered with Sip Nordic to launch a new series of dynamically managed structured products into the UK independent financial adviser (IFA) market. The investments will be sold by a 25-strong sales force working across the…
Volatility returns to pre-Lehman levels
Market volatility across several sectors has dropped back to levels last seen before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, lending weight to the belief that the financial markets are on the road to recovery.
Forex freefall
Asia Risk FX Review & Outlook 2009 - Funding
Blossoming interest
Asia Risk FX Review & Outlook 2009 - Cover story
Skandia prepares income generator based on dividends
Skandia will launch tomorrow the Skandia Enhanced Dividend Seeker, a new protected product which delivers an annual income that depends on the dividend payments of the FTSE100 companies, rather than their share price valuations.
US Wrap: External credit and growth products dominate
The resurgence of bullish growth products is continuing in the US market, alongside the use of external credit providers to issue notes. Eksportfinans appears to be dominating the majority of this business, with two providers looking to the company to…
Barclays adds US option to Supertracker
Barclays Wealth has expanded its five-year Supertracker plan offering UK customers a US-option. The move comes in response to customer demand for more short-dated notes in current uncertain markets, says Colin Dickie, director of Barclays Wealth.
US Wrap: Momentum accelerates towards week end
Issuance gathered pace yesterday as four providers launched a diverse spread of 18 products. Bank of America unveiled accelerated growth and kick-out structures, neither of which offered exposure to the usual S&P 500 index, but instead exposed investors…
US Wrap: Acceleration steps back into fashion
Accelerated growth products were back in fashion yesterday in the US new issuance market, producing eight of the 13 products released The remainder were reverse convertibles, continuing the return of the recently beleaguered structure. For underlyings,…
Selling pressure lifts on dividends
Implied dividends of European stocks, derived from the prices of dividend swaps on the DJ Eurostoxx 50 index, have rallied sharply, reflecting growing confidence about the future of the equity market.
Barclays Wealth offers US exposure to Super Tracker investors
Barclays Wealth has launched the latest version of its FTSE tracker product, which features an S&P 500 option that gives investors accelerated participation in the US index. In a market usually limited to UK equity, investors will now be able to opt for…
US Wrap: Issuers hit the accelerator
The US structured products market saw a bumper day of issuance yesterday, including five accelerated growth products from JP Morgan and 10 reverse convertibles from Barclays Bank. In total, 22 products were launched by six providers in one of the year's…
US Wrap: Electric exposures liven up week
Exposure broadened in the US market yesterday as providers launched notes offering exposure to Brazilian equity, international shares and General Electric stock among other underlyings, putting S&P 500 linked products in the minority.
NDFA launches latest fixed income trade
UK Distributor NDFA has launched its Regular Fixed Income Plan April 09, which is designed to provide exposure to the FTSE 100 Index. The trade is issued by AA minus-rated Barclays Bank.
Société Générale takes UK warrants out to 2012
Société Générale has issued covered warrants with maturities of 2011 and 2012, its longest maturities to date and beyond the usual three to six months that require rolling over from one product to the next.
Product performance
Two products common to the UK market and one that is well-known in the US - all three with the same strike date - are the subject of this month's comparisons
Fanciful funding
Credit default swaps
Forging an index
Efforts by miner BHP Billiton to create an iron ore index that would represent the underlying benchmark for a series of derivatives instruments appear to be floundering as Chinese steel producers press hard for pricing advantage. Kathleen Kearney reports
Blue Sky offers new growth plans
UK distributor Blue Sky Asset Management has launched the second issue of its Protected and Guaranteed Growth plans, which are designed to provide exposure to the FTSE 100 index.