Futures commission merchant (FCM)
Barclays, RBC end 2024 with record-high swaps margin
Both dealers see double-digit increases, but year sees least growth in at least a decade
Morgan Stanley overtakes BofA as third-largest FCM by margin in 2024
Marex and Deutsche see sharpest upticks in required client margin for F&O, while Wedbush and Mizuho fall furthest
FCMs welcome CFTC margin rule ring-fencing clarification
Final rule on separate accounts replicates no-action relief as Republicans strip out gold plate
Rostin Behnam’s unfinished business
Next CFTC chair must finish the work Behnam started on crypto regulation and conflicts of interest
FCMs call for more oversight of self-clearing CCP members
Clearing firms worry that PTFs and market-makers joining CCPs en masse will increase systemic risk
Clearing members ponder the purpose of CME’s mystery FCM
Some think licence will be used to boost crypto clearing capacity, but many questions remain
Review of 2024: as markets took a breather, firms switched focus
In the absence of major crises and rules deadlines, financial firms revamped strategy, services and practices
US senators press CFTC on Japan swap clearing
Boozman and Hagerty urge action on yen swap clearing access to JSCC in letter to US regulator
BofA’s rates revamp leans into multi-strategy boom
New rates head Laura Chepucavage prioritises collateral efficiency, e-trading and central risk book for enlarged rates, futures and financing unit
Withholding tax trips up Eurex agency clearing model
Clearing members rely on CCP to resolve potential problem with German tax authorities
Marex leapfrogs three FCMs with record F&O margin
New clients, trading activity surge and higher margin rates drive increase at UK broker
CFTC’s Mersinger wants new rules for vertical silos
Republican commissioner shares Democrats’ concerns about combined FCMs and clearing houses
Clearing members rattled as CME approved to launch its own FCM
National Futures Association registration sharpens concerns about conflict of interest with CCP
Gensler to stick to Treasury clearing timetable
SEC chief promises to keep up the pressure for done-away trades
Morgan Stanley, Goldman FCMs set new margin records
Investment banks see futures, options and swaps margin hit new highs in September
Required swaps margin surged at three US FCMs in volatile August
Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and BofA hoovered up $5.5bn in client margin over first half of last month
The standoff over separate account margining
CFTC issues sixth extension of no-action relief as long-awaited final rule stalls
Citi, Barclays raise FCM target residual interest 28% in June
Backstop funds also marginally up as a proportion of required customer funds
Marex plots interest rate clearing push
UK broker is live on LCH and plans to be a “day one” clearing member on FMX
Margin calls jumped threefold as global markets sold off
FCMs claim no client defaults, but episode revives complaints of procyclical margining
Barclays overtakes BofA on client margin for swaps
July figures make FCM fifth-largest by total margin in the US