Moody’s Investors Service
GFI opens new Islamic broking desk in London
Interdealer broker GFI has opened a new Islamic banking and finance broking desk in London to meet growing demand for securities that are compliant with Islamic law.
The Great Ratings Debate Continues
Controversy over how the major credit ratings agencies operate broke out again at a conference hosted by the Bond Market Association earlier this year.
Mardig Haladjian
With more Islamic institutions looking for ratings, the general manager of the financial institutions group at Moody's in Cyprus explains how the agency rates these names versus conventional credits
CDS IndexCo and Markit launch synthetic US CMBS index
CDS IndexCo and Markit have launched CMBX, a range of synthetic credit default swap (CDS) indexes of US commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), which will trade from today.
Moody's KMV launches RiskCalc Germany
Moody's KMV has launched a new German version of its RiskCalc credit assessment software.
Moody’s KMV launches Chinese RiskAnalyst
Moody’s KMV, a provider of credit risk measurement solutions, has launched a Chinese version of RiskAnalyst, a platform that allows institutions to make lending decisions using internal ratings and analysis of financial statement data based on local…
Calyon and Axa launch ‘Ocean’ credit CPPI notes
Calyon and Axa Investment Managers (IM) are set to join the slew of financial institutions offering 100% principle-protected notes based on a managed portfolio of synthetic credits.
What has op risk to do with ‘credit’ ratings?
How should credit rating agencies include op risk in their assessment of firms’ creditworthiness? By Choongo Moonga
Basel IIBetter for everyone?
On June 26, 2004, international banking supervisors agreed in Basel, Switzerland to a new framework that will alter the way many banks calculate their capital requirements. The new Basel Capital Accord is to be phased in during 2007 and is scheduled for…
Reducing risk through insurance
In this article, Silke Brandts describes a general algorithm for quantifying the risk-mitigating impact of operational risk insurance. She then presents a simple haircut approach to incorporate residual risks inherent in the insurance contracts into the…
Unlocking the rating process
The credit rating agencies are often criticized for a lack of transparency in their rating methodology. But as John Caserta reports, the agencies are taking steps to shed light on this often mysterious process and, in doing so, rebuild investor…
First Irish covered mortgage bonds set to debut
Bank of Ireland's mortgage banking unit is readying the country’s first issuance of covered bonds backed by a pool of residential mortgages. The €2 billion issue, which will be triple-A rated, is set to be priced within the next month. Barclays Capital,…
Moody’s warns investors on digital CDS ‘moral hazard’
Moody’s Investors Service today warned investors to be wary of potential ‘moral hazard’ associated with the proliferation of digital credit default swaps (CDS).
Downgrade/upgrade ratio improved, Moody’s reports
The ratio of downgrades to upgrades declined sharply in 2003, although rating volatility was still above its long-term historical average, said rating agency Moody's Investors Service.
Daiwa Securities SMBC launches first rated CDO of EDS
Japan’s Daiwa Securities SMBC has launched a CDO of equity default swaps (EDS), making it the first pure EDS portfolio to be rated globally.
US insurers’ loss reserves deficient by $30 billion, says Moody’s
Property and casualty insurers in the US are holding inadequate loss reserves, according to a study by Moody’s Investors Services. The extent to which some insurers are exposed to liquidity risk through this inadequacycould even result in future…
BOCI launches CLNs for retail investors in Hong Kong
Bank of China International (BOCI) has launched its first credit-linked investment product for Hong Kong’s retail investors.
No Nera for agencies
Moody's and S&P claim that a recently commissioned study supports their belief that not all agencies' ratings are equal. Fitch, meanwhile, takes a different line of argument. Saskia Scholtes examines the notches that have driven a wedge between the…
CDO exposure to Parmalat €660 million, says Moody's
A total of 65 collaterised debt obligation (CDO) contracts have “a direct exposure on Parmalat or its relevant subsidiaries”, said rating agency Moody’s Investors Service.
Moody's assessment approach 'evolving', says new executive
In an exclusive interview with Operational Risk, an executive from Moody's Investor Services, the US-based rating agency, said the firm's approach to operational risk assessments is "evolving".
Nomura analyst sceptical about Nera's ratings study
Research by National Economic Research Associates' (Nera) economic consulting division comparing different rating agencies' rating processes has been described as "disappointingly inconclusive" by Mark Adelson, a New York-based securitisation and asset…
Nomura analyst sceptical about Nera’s ratings study
Research by National Economic Research Associates' (Nera) economic consulting division comparing different rating agencies’ rating processes has been described as “disappointingly inconclusive” by Mark Adelson, a New York-based securitisation and asset…
Russian roulette
Oil
Moody’s hits out at combined cash and synthetic CDOs
Moody’s Investors Service has warned investors that the International Swaps and Derivatives Association legal documentation underpinning combined cash and synthetic collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) is far from perfect.