Derivs - Equity

Securities and futures regulators should make it clear that annuities and other insurance contracts are not swaps and, therefore, not subject to being regulated as such, according to the Committee of Annuity Insurers.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation is working on expanding its automated cash flow matching and netting service for over-the-counter equity derivatives to non-dealers.

Morgan Stanley strategists are recommending worst-of baskets on Asia ex-Japan energy and material stocks as a cheap hedge against inflation risk in the first half of 2011.

Malaysia will continue to tighten over-the-counter derivative regulation and investor protection measures for structured products in the coming decade, according to Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, chairman of the Malaysia Securities Commission.

Société Générale strategists are recommending two over-the-counter plays on Japanese stocks to take advantage of so-called year-end window dressing.

Corporate income statement volatility will fall under the International Accounting Standards Board’s proposed accounting standard changes for derivative transactions released last week.

Barclays Capital has cut four equity derivative traders and one equity derivative structurer, including Nicolas Cohen-Addad, the former head of Asia equity derivative trading.

HSBC has reportedly hired Richard Gallagher as a v.p. in equity derivative flow sales, according to officials familiar with the move.

Taiwan high-net-worth investors have been buying twin win structured notes over the last few weeks, as risk appetite continues to return to the market.

Segregating client collateral via individual accounts in clearing over-the-counter derivatives is gathering popularity among endusers, according to speakers at the Futures and Options World Derivatives Conference on Wednesday.

Insurance companies, among other investors, were by and large not coaxed into increasing their equity hedge plays over the past week, even as the euro swooned against the U.S. dollar and eurozone bailout concerns mounted.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission introduced a proposed rule today that includes a four-part test for exempting financial entities from being designated as swap dealers. The rule also includes proposed thresholds for the designation of major swap participants.