CCP
WHAT IS THIS? A central counterparty (CCP) manages default risk by collecting initial and variation margin from both parties to a trade. Spill-over losses are absorbed via a default fund to which all members contribute – introducing a degree of mutualised risk – and by the CCP’s own capital. The concept is an old one that was extended to over-the-counter derivatives in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Clearing members cry foul over restrictive FICC rule change
Draft interpreted as attempt to obstruct rival clearing houses entering US Treasuries market
Ice Europe’s liquid resources up 27% under new model
More comprehensive stress-testing model pushes highly marketable collateral to record high in Q1
Is JSCC-CFTC stalemate about to be broken?
Japan CCP gains allies in battle to clear yen swaps for US clients, but CFTC shakeup could dash hopes
Default funds at CME, JSCC and OCC grew to record levels in Q1
CCPs’ skin in the game fails to keep pace with member contributions
Open position concentration hits record high at top CCPs
LCH, Nasdaq and Eurex report biggest quarterly jumps among 16 clearing houses
JSCC’s initial margin soared as Japan’s stock market hit record high
Higher demand for exchange-traded products pushed requirements up in Q1
FCM-style client clearing comes to Europe
Eurex and LCH among CCPs ready to adopt new agency model aimed at easing bank capital
JSCC, ASX see hypothetical stress loss breaches in Q1
Single-member default in worst-case scenario would have exceeded available resources
MMF margin adoption needed to boost tokenisation efforts
Instruments must be more widely accepted as initial margin for new tech initiatives to take off, says JPM exec
VAR migration postponed at LME amid nickel crisis review
Clearing house faces tricky balance between arbitrage trades and corporate metals hedging
Liquidity risk hits five-year high at LCH
Higher settlement obligations at Paris-based RepoClear blamed for €9bn spike
LCH suffered nearly 13 hours of op failures in Q1
Longest downtime since 2019 in breach of CCP’s two-hour recovery objective
Drilling for default: dry run gives CCPs a Lehman-like lesson
Member default simulation finds standardisation and porting could help in a crisis, and moots unscheduled repeat drill
Regulators urged to back non-cash variation margin
Market participants warn FSB on cash demands if banks curb collateral upgrade trades
JSCC presses for US client clearing exemption
Heightened yen rate risk adding urgency to US funds’ calls for swaps clearing access
Cleared rate for CDSs dropped in H2 2023
Record five-percentage point decline driven by multi-name contracts
New FICC clearing model still holds fears for buy side
Sponsored access with margin segregation hasn’t reassured firms about loss mutualisation
Clear warning on escape hatch for optimisation trades
CCPs fear Emir clearing mandate carve-out for portfolio rebalancing could be abused
Alternative margin models for mortgage-backed securities
The authors investigate mortgage-backed securities, applying margin frameworks often used on other asset classes to MBSs which could be uses as a supplemental model framework.
Industry urges focus on initial margin instead of intraday VM
CPMI-Iosco says scheduled variation margin is better than ad hoc calls by clearing houses
FICC takes flak over Treasury clearing proposal
Latest plans would still allow members to bundle clearing and execution – and would fail to boost clearing capacity, critics say
Buy side would welcome more guidance on managing margin calls
FSB report calls for regulators to review existing standards for non-bank liquidity management
Industry pushes to extend review for Emir active accounts rule
Fears that compressed timeframe leaves less than a year to test if controversial policy is working
As FCMs dwindle, regulators fear systemic risk
Panellists highlight dangers of clearing membership becoming more concentrated