Structured products
WHAT IS THIS? Structured products are investments that have multiple components. For retail investors, the most common form is a bond plus an option – these tend to be standardised, sold in small tickets and large volumes. Managing the risks of large structured products portfolios is one of the biggest challenges dealers face.
ETF providers hit back at 'hearsay' in the press and regulator concerns about synthetic ETFs
ETF providers have been angered by the continuing focus on synthetic ETFs by regulators such as the Bank of England and the IMF. But they are particularly concerned about the bad press coverage.
Merchant Capital rapidly expands its distribution arm with the addition of seven staff
Merchant Capital expands its distribution arm with the addition of seven staff
Tenors get extended as structurers face poor market conditions
Maturities for US structured products get stretched and Barclays issues a reverse convertible with a high risk rating
'Investor uncertainty' dampening new ETF investment in Europe
Events in peripheral Europe and slow growth in other developed markets have left many investors sitting on cash or maintaining current ETF positions
Meekins is first to take local lead at Daiwa
Keith Meekins is the first non-Japanese chief executive at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe
Ossiam enters European ETF market with listings in France, Germany, Italy and London
Paris-based exchange-traded funds provider Ossiam will finish its first round of listings in London next week
UK Structured Products Association joins the JAC
The SPA is the latest addition to the Joint Associations Committee, which has been bolstering its membership in recent months following the release of its core structured products principles
Engineering debate
Malaysian Structured Products Forum 2011
Trouble in Taiwan's structured notes market
Tension in Taiwan
Bank of America offers digital payout while three issuers compete with leveraged S&P 500 products
Barclays reverse convertibles dominate the latest US structured product offerings, but there is also diversion into digital payouts and leveraged returns
Shortage of underlyings is stunting development of renminbi products, say providers
Market participants say a lack of renminbi-denominated underlyings is slowing down the development of renminbi-denominated equity-linked products
Inflation and interest rate differentials favouring emerging markets
Long-term prospects for emerging markets look promising, but a more challenging global backdrop and ongoing inflation pressures argue for continued caution, according to European market participants
Chris Taylor exits Incapital to launch independent consultancy
Following Chris Taylor's departure from structured products provider Incapital earlier this month, this week sees the launch of his new endeavour, The Investment Bridge
BlackRock to create index funds on new MSCI ESG series
MSCI's latest environmental, social and governance index series includes ex Controversial Weapons indexes and SRI indexes based on its ESG research ratings
Brazil nears structured product milestone
New rules will boost local market for retail products, issuers hope
Citi launches onshore Brazilian fund linked to US stocks
Citi fund enables investors in Brazil to explore non-local underlyings while retaining the comfort of an investment in their home currency
Investors should avoid a flight from risky assets, says Barclays Capital
Investors should avoid dumping risky assets despite concerns over slow growth and eurozone debt, according to a BarCap report, as opportunities may arise in equities and credit later this year
iShares launches local currency emerging market debt ETF
iShares has listed an exchange-traded fund in London in response to institutional demand for access to emerging market bonds and currencies
Merged Spanish savings banks expected to have greater appetite for structured products
Consolidation among Spanish savings banks has temporarily stalled structured products distribution, but many believe larger distribution channels will eventually result from the mergers
Spanish government debt issuance competing with structured products, say providers
Spanish regional government bonds aimed at retail investors are causing concern among some structured products providers
Citi reorganises structured products; Burns to accept new role
Citi has announced a reorganisation of its structured products group, mixing institutional and regional structuring and opening distribution to most of the bank's retail investment products
Exotic options listing on JSE expected to precipitate more ETPs
The first exotic currency options have been listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as market participants anticipate moves towards on-exchange trading
S&P launches additional risk control indexes using bonds to add upside
Standard & Poor's has launched a second series of its popular risk control indexes, this time using a bond component while targeting a specific level of volatility
Energy Risk Structured Products House of the Year Award: Deutsche Bank
Structured Products House of the Year: Deutsche Bank