Derivs - Clearing and Exchanges

BGC Partners has retaliated within hours of CME Group announcing an increased tender offer for GFI Group at $5.60 per share, offering a non-contingent $5.75 per share offer that can increase up to $5.85 should the tender offer be accepted by the extended 29 January 2015 deadline. This price escalation represents the newest development in a nearly eight-month bidding war for the firm.

2014 continued to be an active year for financial regulation in the EU, with a push to finalise much of the outstanding primary legislation on the regulatory reform agenda and to move towards implementation of regulation already in place. The derivatives market will be particularly affected by the new regulatory landscape and the market will face many new challenges in 2015 and beyond.

The Singapore Exchange and ICAP’s electronic FX business, EBS, have teamed up to develop a new range of Asian currency products and services which will strengthen the liquidity in the FX over-the-counter derivatives and futures markets in Asia.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange is now publishing values for three new volatility indexes using the prices of CME Group’s FX futures options in response to client demand.

Overall interest rate trading that was reported to swap data repositories last week increased by 420% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Overall credit default swap notional that was reported, also increased by 400% from the previous week.

End-users trading swaps could be exempted from posting margin on swaps not cleared by registered derivatives clearing organizations under a new Congressional rule amending the Dodd-Frank Act. Despite flaws in the original drafting, the amendment to the rule would be a substantive change to the legislation and would clarify the margin posting process, according to lawyers.

The Intercontinental Exchange has added five new currency contracts to its suite of FX contracts, highlighting investor demand for more access to currency risk management and hedging strategies via emerging market currencies.

New futures on a 10 year US Treasury Note Volatility Index, which allow investors to hedge interest rate volatility with a single product for the first time, are gaining traction. As the US is ending quantitative easing, market participants are tipping volumes to surge in the first quarter of 2015 as investors look to hedge their fears over looming rate hikes. Beth Shah reports.

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week increased by 44% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association.

Harmonisation and crossborder issues are key concerns for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association as markets enter 2015. As Scott O’Malia, CEO of ISDA and former commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, tells Beth Shah, regulators need to ensure that crossborder oversight is based on risk and not location.

A report from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission on central clearing for non-deliverable forwards warned of possible problems if a mandate is applied incorrectly, urging coordination and standardisation of practices, according to lawyers

The Japan Securities Clearing Corporation and its affiliates have been granted time-limited, no-action relief by the US Commodities Futures and Trading Commission to continue to conduct business despite the fact it has not yet been approved as a derivatives clearing organisation.