Tag: OTC Derivatives

Financial Reform Becomes Law: The Devil's In The Details (Futures Magazine)

The law is passed but the rule writing processing is where the real nitty gritty details will be defined.  My comments focus mostly on the execution space and definition of Swap Execution Facility: McPartland says the new rules will mean more transparency for traders. “We’ll see much more readily accessible electronic data for swaps trading. […]

Regulators may silence derivative squawk boxes (Financial Times)

With the financial reform bill officially law its time to get down to details.  One big area in need of clarity is OTC derivative executions which includes the soon to be defined Swap Execution Facility.  This FT article goes through the ins and outs and winners and losers when it comes to SEFs.  My comment […]

Sen. Lincoln To Exempt Community Banks From Swaps Spinoff Bill (Wall Street Journal)

Senator Lincoln is backing down slightly from originally proposed derivatives amendment.  Its still far from reality in my opinion, but we’re getting there. “The fact the [legislation] is so broad-reaching may cause problems for small banks that already have capital constraints and are also not budgeting for the legal ramifications of this,” said Kevin McPartland, […]

Banks vs. Congress: The Financial Reform Endgame Approaches (AOL DailyFinance)

We’re finally near the end of a drawn out legislative process to create new rules for governing OTC derivatives and US banking in general.  A long rule writing process will follow, so we’re far from done, but the bill to be passed by Congress will define the groundwork for the new market structure. “Clearly in […]

A Rude Awakening for OTC Derivative Executions: Buying a Bandwagon Seat

Also posted at TabbFORUM.com The current execution landscape for OTC derivatives is in for a rude awakening.  Index CDS and the most liquid interest rate swaps (2-, 5-, 7- and 10-year) are set to move into a world of high speed messaging and even higher speed analytics.  Many have already discussed how an expected execution […]

Dropping Swaps Plan for Volcker Rule May Not Reduce Bank Risk (Bloomberg)

Some think its too much and some think its too little.  Either way the proposals don’t seem good for the market and its feeling more and more like the resulting rules will push business off shore. The market-making exemption will have little effect on how banks use swaps to place trades betting on the direction […]

Reforms may help some brokers (The Hill)

It is inevitable that some portion of the OTC derivative market will see an execution mandate.  I have been an outspoken believer that this change will happen at the hand of Swap Executions Facilities (SEF) much more so than traditional exchanges.  This article in the Hill discusses the political angle of this move towards an […]

Wall Street Eyes Moving Trading to Switzerland (ABC News)

If OTC Derivatives reform is passed as it is in the Senate there is a real chance the majority of OTC derivative trading that goes on today in the US will move offshore.  This might sound like a great outcome to those that believe derivatives are the root of all evil, however the reality is […]