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The confrontation between ABN Amro and Italy's Banca Popolare di Lodi over control of Banca Antonveneta intensified this week when Consob, the Italian securities markets regulator, began investigating share ownership patterns in Antonveneta.

Fund of funds mammoth HFR Asset Management is rolling out this week what is believed to be the first fund designed to short a hedge fund index.

Credit Suisse First Boston has promoted a slew of people in its syndicated loan group.

Equity derivatives flow sales pair quit Lehman Brothers for fund management group.

Volumes in the structured finance secondary market are surging, with billions of dollars in bonds having changed hands among Wall Street dealers in recent weeks.

The pending Argentina sovereign debt restructuring could set a dangerous new precedent for bondholders in defaulted emerging market credits and could spark further outflows as default fears escalate in conjunction with spread widening.

London-based Baring Asset Management is scaling back its position in European government bonds and is looking to add to U.S. and Canadian government bonds, said Marino Valensise, head of fixed income.

Barclays Capital's head of its inflation-linked business has moved internally to the rates sales desk.

Commonwealth Advisors is putting new cash to work in short-duration surrogate cash instruments, according to Walter Morales, president and chief investment officer of the Baton Rouge, La., fund. It manages around $250 million in fixed income.

Bear Stearns has brought on board former Morgan Stanley banker Morgan Edwards as a managing director in capital markets to focus specifically on new issue.

Three more credit professionals have left Morgan Stanley's corporate credit group.

A Credit Suisse First Boston credit and interest-rate strategist has left and will join Banc of America Securities.