Foreign exchange
Marketgraphic - European investment grade issuance
High grade corporates have turned to the bond markets for financing given the reluctance of banks to extend loans. Analysis by Michael West and Sabinne Renner of Moody's
Klaas Knot
One of the architects of the Basel II Accord - and a senior Dutch regulator - defends the framework against criticisms that it was ineffectual in the face of the recent banking turmoil
On the crest of a wave
Corporate bond volumes have been soaring as companies scramble to meet their funding requirements in the wake of the loan market's demise. Simon Boughey looks at whether this wave of issuance is a temporary phenomenon or whether it heralds a permanent…
SEC aims to close the Gaap by prolonging consultation period on accounting rules
The extra 60 days for public comment on the amalgamation of US and international accounting standards does not signify a stalling of the process, says a financial accounting chief
Ukraine heads list of riskiest sovereign issuers
Central Asian and South American countries dominate the league table of sovereign issuers with the highest risk debt, while northern European nations - plus the US - are among the safest
Max Bublitz: The great race ... to the bottom
Predicting how long the downturn will last is a fool's game. Past cycles are no useful indicator because we are undergoing a more tectonic shift in the global economic landscape
Robert Stheeman
The head of the UK's Debt Management Office, the body responsible for administering the wave of recent government issuance, tells Sarfraz Thind that the recent failed auction doesn't spell a death of demand for gilts
Gary Jenkins: Turner's blank canvas
The FSA's chairman, Lord Turner, has published his much-anticipated recommendations for a shake-up of the regulatory system. Do they go far enough?
The price is right
Consensus on the input assumptions that financial institutions use to value structured finance securities is crucial if the market is to reach a universally agreed method of pricing these impaired assets. By Peter Jones of Standard & Poor's
Heineken
Our regular look at groundbreaking and innovative deals in the primary markets takes in the £400 million unrated Heineken deal, and BP's monster $3.25 billion offering
Stopping the rot
Noises from leading banks that they may be returning to profitability are failing to mask the painful truth that vast quantities of toxic assets are still causing a stink on banks' balance sheets. Credit looks at the various plans being put forward to…
FDIC extension gives breathing space to banks
The difficulties banks are facing in borrowing capital are ample justification for extending the TLGP scheme, say observers. Indeed, there are calls for the scheme to become more permanent
Limits to growth for Russian forex derivatives exchanges
The decline in the rouble led to a boom for Russian derivatives exchanges earlier this year, but local conditions mean growth is unlikely to continue.
Put spreads play part in the taming of the skew
The recent popularity of put spreads and put-spread collars has helped push down volatility skew to record lows on global equity indexes, according to dealers.
Regulators square up to leverage ratio challenge
Bank supervisors are increasingly advocating the introduction of a gross leverage ratio as a restriction on the growth of assets relative to capital, but the biggest challenge will be to create an internationally consistent measure under diverse…
Talf requests plunge $3bn to $1.7bn in latest funding round
Demand for loans under the US Treasury's Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (Talf) has dropped precipitously since the scheme opened in March.
Concerns over political influence overshadow FASB's changes to fair value
US auditors and investors are concerned that accounting standards are being dictated by politicians rather than independent standard setters.
BNP Paribas appoints Blotto
BNP Paribas Corporate & Investment Banking has appointed Stefano Blotto to the Institutional relationship management team for European coverage of institutional accounts. Blotto is based in London and reports to Talbot Stark, global relationship manager…
Fed in $287bn currency swap with central banks
Four central banks, including the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE), have agreed further reciprocal foreign currency swap arrangements with the Federal Reserve to provide more US dollar funds to firms in participating nations as…