Derivs - People and Markets

Citigroup has appointed Conor Cunningham as head of exchange-traded derivatives for Asia-Pacific.

UBS has hired Mike Stewart as co-head of global equities.

The nine-member proprietary trading team that left Bank of America in April is said to be heading to Millennium Management.

The Blackstone Group is planning to launch the GSO Capital Opportunities Fund II, which will invest in high-yield debt as well as mezzanine and secured debt in the U.S. and Europe, according to a regulatory filing.

Goldman Sachs has lost more than a dozen traders from its North American government bond and derivatives trading desk in New York as the bank has been handing out fewer bonuses and taking fewer risks.

Barclays Capital has expanded its fx service for its offshore Renminbi product by adding local trading in London and New York as well as Asia.

EFG Financial Products in Hong Kong is planning hires and to expand its client base in Asia over the coming year.

The Brazilian government’s move to tax short U.S. dollar positions prompted a spike in funds closing option trades.

National Futures Association has hired Jamila Piracci, formerly of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, to plan for the eventual duties the Commodity Futures Trading Commission will hand over.

BMO Capital Markets has expanded U.S. core rates with the hiring of Andrew Lazar and Timothy Shanahan as directors.

Investec Structured Products has introduced a quartet of instruments linked to the FTSE 100: the FTSE 100 Geared Returns Plan, FTSE 100 Bonus Income Plan, FTSE 100 Enhanced Kick-Out Plan and the Gilt Backed Growth Plan.

Investment-grade credit trader David Ballois has left HSBC in London.