Standard & Poor’s
BNP to offer derivatives based on S&P Hedge Fund Index
BNP Paribas has been granted a licence by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to deliver derivatives products linked to the S&P Hedge Fund Index. BNP is the first bank to be given permission to develop derivatives based on the index.
Europe's credit outlook remains bleak, says S&P
The most severe stage of the credit cycle may be over, but the creditworthiness of European companies and institutional borrowers will remain weak in 2003, according to rating agency Standard & Poor’s.
Spreads widen on Munich Re, Aegon, BA Systems and Fiat
Credit default swap spreads widened this week on Munich Re, Aegon, BAE systems and Fiat. But traders said trading was thin and there was very limited movement in other credit spreads in the European market.
S&P slams Isda’s proposed changes to default swaps definition
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services says it strongly objects to a proposed change in credit derivatives documentation language currently being considered by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) working group.
Moody’s counters S&P report on UK bank stability
Moody’s today countered claims by rival credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s made yesterday that the UK banking system is vulnerable to financial stress.
British and US banks placed on risk list
Banks in Britain and the United States are threatened by increased risks due to possible falls in asset bubbles, and are now vulnerable to financial stress, according to credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
MBIA and S&P join war of words with Gotham over reinsurer’s AAA rating
Jay Brown, chairman of US monoline reinsurance company MBIA, entered into a row with Gotham Partners Management yesterday over comments made in a report issued by the US hedge fund. Brown called the report, which suggested MBIA should lose its coveted …
HVB downgrade forces spreads wider
The cost of five-year senior protection for HypoVereinsbank (HVB) widened by more than 10 basis points to 95/115bp yesterday after rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the German bank. The downgrade, along with another negative report on bank risk…
Credit protection for European telecoms continues to tighten
The cost of credit protection for European telecoms continued to tighten this week, led by France Telecom and boosted by an S&P upgrade for the Netherlands' KPN yesterday. Elsewhere in Europe, spreads remained tight with little movement, including those…
S&P says Basel II helping to improve German banking
FRANKFURT – The proposed Basel II bank safety rules, weak operating performance and shareholder value considerations are behind a trend to more efficient capital allocation, prudent cost control and risk-adjusted pricing in German banking, a leading…
Basel II helping to improve German banking, says S&P
The proposed Basel II bank safety rules, weak operating performance and shareholder value considerations are behind a trend to more efficient capital allocation, prudent cost control and risk-adjusted pricing in German banking, a leading credit rating…
Negative rating actions prompt little movement in credit spreads
The European credit derivatives market remained listless this week, with limited movement in protection cost spreads following a string of negative credit news, traders said. The cost of credit protection for German banks, UK bank Barclays and Spain’s…
Swiss banks low risk but face market saturation, says Moody's
The two-tiered Swiss banking system, split between global giants Credit Suisse Group (CGS) and UBS at one level and smaller regional and private banks at another, continues to exhibit comparatively low risk levels, said Moody’s in a report on Swiss banks…
Credit protection for troubled European financials remains stable
The cost of protection for European financials has remained relatively unchanged this week, despite a spate of downgrades and negative ratings actions. Abbey National released poor results today, but credit default swaps on the British bank held firm…
Deutsche's hedge fund business and Plusfunds to distribute S&P Hedge Fund Index products
DB Absolute Return Strategies (DB ARS), the global hedge fund management business of Deutsche Bank, and PlusFunds, a New York-based service platform for hedge funds, have signed an agreement for the distribution of S&P Hedge Fund Index-based products…
Credit protection for German financial institutions remains stable
The cost of credit protection for German financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank and insurer Allianz, remained relatively stable today, despite negative rating outlook changes from Moody’s.
C&W protection costs widen 200bp following restructuring talk
The cost of credit protection on debt of UK telecommunications company Cable and Wireless (C&W) has widened by more than 200 basis points since its revealed late Wednesday that it would cut 3,500 jobs, undergo a major restructuring and reassess its off…
S&P rates first structured product as an index
Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has rated, for the first time, a structured finance transaction, Core Investment Grade Bond Trust I, as an index rather than as a collateralised debt obligation.
A question of priorities
Japan's banks are aware of the need to prepare for Basel II, but it is just one of a number of urgent issues that need to be resolved in the Japanese banking sector.
US and European credit derivatives markets remain muted
Default protection costs continue to tighten in both the US and the European credit default swap market in line with the cash market, traders said today, adding that volumes continue to remain relatively muted, particularly in the European markets.
Data hurdles
The risk management rumour mill has been buzzing in recent weeks with the story that US banking regulators have told the senior management of the country’s 30 largest banks that they will be expected to implement the advanced internal ratings-based (IRB)…
Credit ratings come into FX focus
Credit ratings are becoming increasingly significant to foreign exchange market players, with downgrades increasing in the current economic downturn, market participants told RiskNews ' sister publication FX Week .
Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian banks most risky in Asia
Banks domiciled in China, Indonesia and Vietnam are the most risky in Asia when it comes to economic and industry risk combined with problem assets, according to a 14-country study by rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
Strong Q2 causes BA protection cost to narrow 200bp
The cost of credit protection for British Airways (BA) has tightened by 200 basis points to 725bp following surprisingly strong second-quarter earnings figures released yesterday. The airline beat market expectations by pulling off a financial turnaround…