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--Dan Ladd, head of loan portfolio risk management at UBS in New York, on the firm's first customized loan portfolio credit-default swap.

The first European synthetic leveraged loan index launched stronger than expected last week, boosting single-name loan credit-default swap trading volumes.

Ilex Asset Management, a London credit hedge fund, is set to offer a structured note linked to its main credit fund, as it seeks to boost assets under management.

The first constant proportion debt obligations referencing sub investment-grade credits are expected by dealers before month-end.

Two credit derivative salesmen have left SG Corporate & Investment Banking in London: Piet Helmer-Gregersen, who marketed credit derivatives to Scandinavian clients, and Michael Koller, who covered Switzerland.

Steepeners are taking off as credit players react to the curve change and get drawn away from default risk and single-name protection plays.

Avendis Investment Management, a EUR2.4 billion synthetic collateralized debt obligation manager, has launched a novel constant proportion portfolio insurance note.

Consider Beta versus VHS in video recording, or GSM versus CDMA and TDMA in cellular telephony.

UBS has entered two leveraged loan credit-default swaps to disperse risk in its loan book.

Wachovia Securities has reportedly made cuts in its equity derivatives headcount and laid off about 60 people across equity.

Dura Operating Corp.'s 9% '09 bonds saw a slight short squeeze as buyers of credit default swap protection bought bonds to deliver into CDS contracts.

The Carlyle Group has hired a trio of senior equity derivatives traders.