Derivs - Clearing and Exchanges

First Trust has listed a new exchange-traded fund on the NASDAQ OMX which began trading last Thursday. The ETF, known as First Trust Strategic Income ETF, is the firm’s first multi-asset income fund that is actively managed, and provides a low-cost alternative to traditional fixed-income funds through diversification and the use of multiple asset classes.

BM&FBOVESPA, Brazil’s sole bourse, has unified its four clearinghouses for different asset classes into one single platform, which began live operations Monday for exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives. The firm will now look to launch equities in 2015.

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week decreased by 30% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Overall interest rates derivatives trading that was reported, however, climbed by 8%.

Derivatives market participants have eliminated $500 trillion in notional principal since the introduction of TriOptima’s triReduce compression service in 2003.

Banks looking to cut their Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) are turning to compression techniques in ever larger volumes to ratchet down the individual numbers of swap trades on their books as well as the overall notional amount they have outstanding.

Buyside firms have used the latest trade reporting deadline under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation as an opportunity to adopt a more strategic approach to reporting requirements, including the implementation of controls to maintain consistent data submissions.

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week increased by 16% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. This follows a sharp increase of 50% from the week prior. Overall interest rates derivatives trading that was reported, however, declined by 9%.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions has launched an information repository for central clearing requirements for over-the-counter derivatives, providing both regulators and market participants with a one-stop shop for consolidated information on the clearing requirements of different jurisdictions.

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week increased by 52% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. This was a significant increase following a sharp decrease of 30% reported in the previous week. Overall interest rates derivatives trading that was reported, however, declined by 23%.

ICE Benchmark Administration has assumed the role of administrator for ISDAFIX, the benchmark for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association's annual swap rate.

CME Group will acquire Trayport and FENICS from GFI Group through a two-step equity transaction aimed at creating value for their stockholders as well as qualifying for tax-free exchanges of stock for both firms.

Overall credit default swaps notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week dropped by 30% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Overall interest rate derivatives trading that was reported, however, climbed by 19%.