Derivs - Regulation

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week decreased by 38% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. This follows a consistent uptick over recent weeks in CDS notional, which has seen a 160% increase over the period.

The clearing industry could face increased systemic risk thanks to incoming Basel III regulations on capital charges if more clearing providers, or futures commission merchants as they are known in the US, are forced to close.

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) this week launched FX futures contracts for Chinese onshore and offshore renminbi (USD/CNH and CNY/USD). Transactions in the new RMB futures achieved a first day volume of 1,836 contracts on October 20, or approximately Rmb1.1bn in notional value ($180m), said SGX.

Futures commission merchants (FCMs) are expected to come under increasing pressure from the buyside to reduce the clearing fees that they charge as trading volumes increase. This comes following an increase in rates charged by some FCMs in a bid to cover the rising costs of business associated with the implementation of various regulatory changes.

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week decreased by 4% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. This follows six weeks of a consistent uptick in CDS notional, with a combined increase of 160%.

Live order book trading of market agreed coupon swaps is now trading on UBS’ electronic trading platform Neo, making it the first platform to offer an aggregated order book for MAC swaps.

Dealers are facing increasing costs when providing clearing services to pension funds amid the regulatory push to move trades to clearing houses. The lack of netting provisions for pension funds means capital charges for dealers are high, with the result that leading banks are questioning the viability of the business without a rise in clearing prices.

The global macro picture remains a concern, but credit investors will turn their attentions to micro factors over the next few weeks as earnings season gains momentum.

Overall credit default swap notional that was reported to swap data repositories last week spiked by 41% from the previous week, according to data from the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. This follows five weeks of a consistent uptick in CDS notional, with a combined increase of 119%.

Regulators should be cautious when proposing a clearing mandate for non-deliverable forwards due to the global nature of the fx market, along with regulatory differences between the US and Europe that have yet to be resolved.

A slew of major global banks have agreed to sign a protocol by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association that imposes a stay on cross-default and major termination rights within standard ISDA derivatives contracts if a counterparty defaults.

Swap execution facility TeraExchange has executed the first bitcoin derivatives transaction between bitcoin firm digitalBTC and an unknown hedging company.