Derivatives
Protect to survive
The Lehman minibond scandal put Hong Kong firmly in the spotlight, with television images of protesting investors beamed across the world. In response, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is making changes to investor protection rules. Martin…
ETF Securities launches commodity index tracker fund
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and currency specialist ETF Securities has launched the first ETF to track the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Three-Month Forward Index (DJ-UBSCI F3(SM)), following growing investor demand for diversified commodity related products.
S&P to launch commodity sub-indexes amid US regulation fears
Ratings agency and financial research firm Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is to roll out two commodity-related sub-indexes that focus only on European and Asian contracts in response to fears the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will make further…
Out of their hands
Some regulators have suggested profits based on uncertain valuations of complex products should not be allowed to flow into earnings and be distributed in the form of dividends and bonuses – a move that potentially has massive implications for the…
Two-thirds of ETRM users plan new systems in 2010
Some 67% of respondents to Energy Risk’s 2010 Software Survey say they will be investing in new energy trading risk management (ETRM) systems this year, to tackle dissatisfaction with the speed and usability of existing software systems, as well as…
Regulators take aim at unrealised derivatives profits
Accounting changes promoting more fair-value reporting are forcing supervisors to consider radical restrictions on the way banks use profits.
To be clear on OTC regulation
The US House of Representatives passed a bill on December 11 requiring all standardised derivatives contracts traded between dealers and major swap participants to clear through a registered clearing organisation. The Senate is preparing to debate its…
Clearing up
Roger Liddell, chief executive of LCH.Clearnet, talks to Alexander Campbell
In search of the perfect match
Demand from pension funds for structured products has slumped during the financial crisis due to the great sell-off of equity risk. But the downturn has raised awareness of how derivatives can help match assets and liabilities, a strategy that is on the…
The Thais that bind
The Bank of Thailand relaxed its regulations covering the use of derivatives towards the end of 2009. While retail investors are already allowed to buy structured notes and deposits linked to some foreign variables, the relaxation of rules has provided…
