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Blockbuster last week asked for a new amendment to its bank deal in a long investor call one buysider described as "rancorous."

An increasing flow of low quality issuance has most market players expecting a wave of defaults and restructurings, presenting challenges for collateralized debt obligation managers.

Marty Schafer, a portfolio manager at Principal Global Investors, a Des Moines, Iowa-based fund manager with assets under management of over $1 billion, is putting new cash to work in high quality shorts.

--Jim Dondero, president of Highland Capital Management, on his view of the credit markets.

Relief from the summer doldrums is on the way.

Ravenous collateralized debt obligation managers and strong high-yield bond performance helped push Sunguard's mammoth $4 billion "B" tranche above 101, surprising market players in its first week of trading.

The Financial Services Authority gave UK banks the green light to press ahead with covered bond issuance yesterday (Thursday) by signalling a more relaxed and constructive approach to the product.

Crédit Agricole Asset Management is looking to expand a European credit fund by opening its capital-protected portfolio to U.S. dollar and sterling investors.

Calyon has hired two equity derivative marketers from SG Corporate & Investment Banking in Hong Kong in a bid to expand client coverage.

Eurex, the European derivatives exchange, is close to launching futures on VSTOXX, the European volatility index.

Theo Constantinidis, managing director and head of credit structuring at Deutsche Bank in London, has left the firm.