Refco Overseas, the European division of financial services firm Refco Group, is considering adding credit derivative trading to its fixed income and prime brokerage business, according to market officials. A source close to the firm said Refco is investigating offering credit derivative because of client requests. Stephen Hawksworth, head of fixed income at Refco Overseas, declined to comment.
Refco's client base includes many small to medium-sized hedge funds which already trade through the company's over-the-counter derivatives business. The derivatives group, launched in 1999, structures plain vanilla and exotic swaps and options across a range of asset classes, specializing in commodity trading.