Totally skewed: US annuity hedges magnify S&P volatility
Sales of fixed indexed annuities are soaring in the US. But dealers’ hedging of the products is being blamed for pushing up S&P 500 skew, and their complexities are dampening banks’ appetite to underwrite the instruments
Structured products have a nasty habit of undermining the foundations of the equity markets they track. Over the past year, for instance, stock index volatility and skew – not to mention certain foreign exchange pairs – have been influenced by dealers looking to hedge popular autocallable products.
Traders now claim to see similar dynamics in the largest index of them all – the S&P 500 (SPX) – thanks to US investors' enthusiasm for annuity products, in particular variable annuities (VAs) and
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Markets
Volatility selling is down, but not out
Shrinking risk premiums could end cycle of vol suppression, traders say – but not just yet
Futures gain ground in G10 FX pricing
Some market-makers believe contracts are now primary market price for Commonwealth currencies
AI ‘lab’ or no, banks triangulate towards a common approach
Survey shows split between firms with and without centralised R&D. In practice, many pursue hybrid path
Everything, everywhere: 15 AI use cases in play, all at once
Research is top AI use case, best execution bottom; no use is universal, and none shunned, says survey
Citi rolls out revamped SDP in emerging markets
Unified API will boost electronic pricing and automation for restricted currencies, says bank
HSBC appoints Benihasim as global FX head
Hong Kong-based Benihasim replaces Richard Bibbey, who moved to London to run institutional sales
BlackRock bucks trend in shrinking IRS market for Ucits
Counterparty Radar: Pimco boosts pay-fixed book by $27.5 billion in H1 2024
Hong Kong dealers make Honia transition push
Standard Chartered ramps up swaps quoting for Hibor alternative; calls for industry transition group
