Derivs - Equity

Contingent convertible bonds are trading slightly too cheap, according to strategists at Société Generale in Paris. The strategists have developed a pricing model that gives CoCos an average model price of 112, compared to a market price of 109.

Vontobel is rolling out an online pricing platform for structured products to licensed financial institutions in Singapore.

The Korea Exchange may not be able to deliver an expansion to its derivatives-based product lineup until the end of the year, due to concerns from the country’s regulator surrounding the volatile nature of the underlyings being considered.

Manvir Nijhar, the former co-head of equity derivative flow sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Citigroup in London, has joined BNP Paribas in a senior equity derivatives sales role, also in London.

The European Securities and Markets Authority has revised its guidelines on how UCITS should manage collateral received from over-the-counter derivatives and efficient portfolio management techniques, such as repurchasing, that entered into force on Feb. 18, 2013.

Pension funds and endowments in Europe are renegotiating their trading mandates to exploit the positive credit default swap-cash basis.

Mirae Asset Group listed Monday on the Korea Exchange the first synthetic exchange-traded fund in South Korea for 2014, which tracks the Markit iBoxx US Dollar Liquid High Yield 0-5-year Index

The European Parliament came a step closer to finalizing the banking union on Thursday when it reached a provisional agreement on the proposed single resolution mechanism, squeezing through the deal before Parliament goes to recess in April.

Zurich-based index provider STOXX has launched the STOXX Japan Strong Balance Sheet Indices, designed to underlie exchange-traded funds and structured products.

Paul Hawkins, ex-head of UK credit trading and sales at Santander in London, has left the firm.

Private banks are showing interest in credit linked notes on ArcelorMittal, the steel manufacturer, due to positive basis in credit default swaps on the name. The CLN comes after ArcelorMittal printed a five year benchmark offering on Tuesday.

The Australian Securities Exchange believes volume in its S&P/ASX 200 Volatility Index Futures will increase with greater volatility.