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Credit investors in the U.S. are requesting dealers structure synthetic collateralized debt obligations linked to both emerging market debt and emerging market currencies.

Spreads on the BBB and BBB minus stacks of the CMBX commercial mortgage backed securities synthetic index bounced around last week in response to demand for USD200 million-worth of BBB collateral.

Though credit-default swap index options have been around for a few years, investor interest, liquidity and volumes have increased significantly only this year.

Options volumes on investment-grade credit derivative indices CDX and iTraxx have picked up dramatically in connection with issuance of constant proportion debt obligations.

Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers have launched commodity-linked investment notes offering high coupons providing the underlying stays above or within a certain range or barrier.

Dominion Bond Rating Service is investigating setting up a structured finance team in Germany.

Robeco Alternative Investments is looking into writing cliquet options on its hedge funds.

Equity cliquet options volumes are swelling because insurers have started deploying the once exotic instruments to back annuities.

The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue guidelines to clear up ambiguities in local derivative regulations.