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Coupon clamp-down on Italian retail products
The Banca d’Italia is considering a plan to cap coupon payments on structured investment products targeted at retail investors, according to market sources. Coupons would be limited to no more than double the one-year Euribor rate, which currently stands…
Japan follows US in holiday mood
Trading in Japan’s credit default swap market remained subdued throughout the week, because of Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday in the US and a general month-end slow down in activity.
Synergy snaps up Cor Risk solution for investment strategy management
Toronto-based Synergy Asset Management (Synergy) has implemented a risk portfolio management tool from London-based software analytics Cor Risk Solutions. Synergy said it has licensed Bita Research and Bits Risk Modeller to support its investment…
Europe sees low trading volumes in credit derivatives following US holiday
Trading volumes in the European credit default swap market have dissipated towards the end of the week, following yesterday’s holiday in the US. Spreads remain tight with muted reaction to negative news on particular credits, including Munich Re’s poor…
French credit derivatives trade rules relaxed
Credit derivatives dealers are in line to win more business from French fund managers after the country’s regulator today ruled that trading restraints are to be liberalised.
Icap sees 30% profits increase
Inter-dealer broker Icap has increased its interim pre-tax profits by 30% to £58.2 million, thanks to longer-term interest rate and credit volatility, the company reported.
More insurers to outsource says Swiss Re
Insurance companies are increasingly turning to outsourcing of their asset management operations to manage risks and improve returns, according to Swiss Re.
Swiss banks low risk but face market saturation, says Moody's
The two-tiered Swiss banking system, split between global giants Credit Suisse Group (CGS) and UBS at one level and smaller regional and private banks at another, continues to exhibit comparatively low risk levels, said Moody’s in a report on Swiss banks…
Lazard Asset Management appoints ex derivatives strategist head of fixed income
Lazard Asset Management has appointed Steven Blitz as head of global fixed income. He joins from wealth management group Offitbank and was previously a derivatives product strategist at Salomon Brothers.
Merrill Lynch in drive to promote active currency risk management
Any investor with international dealings should examine their currency exposure in a systematic way and treat foreign exchange as an asset class, according to securities house Merrill Lynch.
OneChicago to roll out 21 more single-stock futures
OneChicago, the US electronic futures exchange, is to add 21 more futures contracts on single stocks beginning from December 6. The new contracts are in addition to the 43 futures on single stocks and futures on ‘Diamonds’ – shares in an exchange-traded…
FT Interactive Data adds CreditGrades to BondEdge
FT Interactive Data, a provider of securities prices and analytical software, has combined credit risk measurement tools from software provider RiskMetrics to its flagship fixed-income portfolio analysis tool, BondEdge.
Fed to explore operational risks in clearance of US government securities
The US Federal Reserve Board has established a private sector working group to recommend steps to mitigate operational risks in the clearance and settlement of US government securities.
Japanese banks raise bad loan provisions in restructuring push
Plans to clean up balance sheets at Japanese banks has had a widely muted impact on the credit market, despite concern that some banks may run a loss in the full year ending March 2003 as a result of their more drastic restructuring plans. Japan’s four…
Credit protection for troubled European financials remains stable
The cost of protection for European financials has remained relatively unchanged this week, despite a spate of downgrades and negative ratings actions. Abbey National released poor results today, but credit default swaps on the British bank held firm…
SG to focus on equity derivatives in Asia
SG, the investment banking arm of French bank Société Générale, has said that it will focus on its Asian equity derivatives business after announcing the closure of its Asia-Pacific equity sales and research activities in a move that will affect 180…
Attractive investment opportunities lie in managed synthetic CDOs, says Goldman
Managed synthetic collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) currently present an attractive long-term opportunity for investors, Goldman Sachs said in a new report this week. The CDOs, composed of credit default swaps on corporate credit, take advantage of…