Derivs - Credit

The derivatives industry had a surprisingly quick win late on Friday when the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) authorised a one-year extension to the final phases of initial margin (IM) regulation.

David White, formerly a sales head at CME-owned TriOptima, has joined his former boss Stuart Connolly at CloudMargin, the collateral management technology provider.

US market participants’ can now use their preferred method of calculating counterparty credit risk (CCR) for derivatives, after US regulators brought the adoption of SA-CCR forward.

Financial market trade associations are pushing regulators to give relief on incoming regulatory requirements on initial margin, pleading that the coronavirus is causing too much disruption to their members’ business lines.

A group of 23 banks and 12 securities houses completed 154 renminbi interest rate option (IRO) transactions worth Rmb12.8bn ($1.81bn) on Monday. The new derivatives product is viewed as a solid step for China’s interest rate reform.

ISDA chief executive Scott O’Malia on Monday stressed the importance of keeping markets open despite concerns about the spread of Covid-19.

IHS Markit is continuing with the Friday rolls for its popular CDX and iTraxx indices, despite the extreme volatility affecting credit markets as Covid-19 and low oil prices spread uncertainty.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission gave market participants adapting to working from home some relief late on Tuesday, with sweeping no-action relief on voice recording requirements. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority hasn’t gone so far, but has offered firms some flexibility.

Financial market participants were left wondering this week if what felt to many like a very vivid stress test had become a complete meltdown, as searing volatility puts all players into crisis preparation mode, write Ross Lancaster, Jon Hay, Max Adams and David Rothnie. Strains are appearing in places where they were not expected, such as the US Treasury market. But markets are continuing to function and some traders have enjoyed exceptional volume.

The Markit iTraxx Crossover index, a barometer of non-investment grade credit, printed as wide as 575bp on Thursday, as credit markets weakened further, and trading desks were seen refusing to bid bonds and working orders only. Real prices were said to be two or three points below those on screens.

Investment banks are said to be freezing hiring plans in capital markets, as the impact of the coronavirus epidemic slashes new issuance volumes and expectations for the year ahead. Some institutions are also said to be using the virus as an excuse to push through planned cuts to banking businesses.

Financial industry lobbyists have told the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that its proposed revisions to swap dealers’ and major swap participants’ capital requirements will have “a significant negative impact on the US swaps market”.