ESMA softens, but equivalence is still elusive

The idea that non-deliverable forwards should be cleared has never been easy to swallow for some in the FX market. So it comes as no surprise that the European Securities and Markets Authority has decided not to introduce clearing for NDFs. To implement that mandate now would mean piling pressure on market participants to clear an unstandardised, infant product at the same time as they are grappling with clearing for credit default swaps and interest rates.