CCP
WHAT IS THIS? A central counterparty (CCP) manages default risk by collecting initial and variation margin from both parties to a trade. Spill-over losses are absorbed via a default fund to which all members contribute – introducing a degree of mutualised risk – and by the CCP’s own capital. The concept is an old one that was extended to over-the-counter derivatives in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Members’ contributions to MBSD’s default fund up 11%
CCP’s skin in the game also up slightly, pushing aggregate amount to highest since Q1 2022
Construction of hypothetical scenarios for central counterparty stress tests using vine copulas
Using the vine copula, the authors put forward a nonparametric means to generate and/or validate hypothetical stress scenarios.
Rate of cleared OTC derivatives rises at European banks
Swedbank leads dealers in secular trend towards clearing space
Mystery clearing member delays ICEU’s CDS transition
But Ice is confident open interest will be close to zero when service shuts down in October
Overboard: ditching clients imperils Treasuries clearing mandate
Standardised docs a drop in the ocean as dealers eye potential costs of sponsored Treasuries clearing
LCH Ltd’s RepoClear margin model gets a makeover
Changes aim to make margin models for gilt repo more sensitive to market moves
Swap Connect growth hampered by unwinding issues
Users’ inability to trade bespoke swaps to unwind positions deters foreign investors
JSCC’s IRS unit hit by record margin breaches
Interest rate volatility drives coverage level below CCP’s risk appetite, triggering IM methodology review
Billions in index CDSs remain at ICEU as clearing shutdown looms
Osttra has migrated 77% of index OI, but the rest is mostly held by clients outside its network
Sovereign bonds top choice for IM collateral
Drive towards higher interest-earning assets strongest at CME and LCH among top CCPs
RepoClear’s default fund halves in Q1
Elevated initial margin allows LCH service to scale back second line of defence to lowest point on record
Ice Credit makes biggest IM call since early pandemic
Aggregate peak calls were 17% higher in Q1 than previous quarter across 25 clearing houses
CCPs shun central banks in liquidity buffers rejig
LCH, Ice US and CME lead the way towards commercial banks
Initial margin hits all-time high at two LCH services
Despite initial margin spike, breaches at SwapClear climb to nearly 19,000
NSCC member received record $42bn cash call in Q1
Largest payment obligation was 22% larger than previous quarter
The battle to stop energy markets boiling over
European CCPs and supervisors join call for changes to mitigate any repeat of last year’s crisis
Raft of EU clearing changes is self-defeating – BNPP lobbyist
Diverging rules between EU and UK starting to threaten EU firms’ competitiveness
Esma calls for enhanced disclosures in OTC energy markets
LME has already mandated more information on non-cleared positions to help foresee market shocks
Initial margin breaches surge at JSCC government bonds division
Sharp interest rate fluctuations triggers largest backtesting deficiency on record
EU active account rule may impose costly CCP basis
Buy-siders say end-users could be forced into volatile Eurex/LCH basis at the worst time under EU proposals
Peak IM call hits record $4.8bn at FICC’s GSD
Required IM also rose to all-time high during volatile Q1
Liquidity risk hits record high at CME
Heightened market volatility in Q1 pushes F&O’s worst-case payment obligation up 13%
FICC’s liquidity pool $3.8bn short of payment obligation
Clearing unit for MBSs incurred first shortfall on record in January
Swap Connect shines light on US client clearing hurdles
New scheme may intensify calls for CFTC to reassess its exempt DCO limitations