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July
Unlike other traders, options bods aren’t scared of volatility – in fact, they reckon they understand its ways. But this year, volatility has been a faithless friend. Theo Casey examines some of the freaky results.
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The Dodd-Frank Act still includes watered-down versions of the Volcker Rule and the Lincoln Amendment, both of which seek to limit deposit-taking banks’ engagement in riskier activities, often involving derivatives.
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June
US legislation to force banks to spin out their swaps desks would raise costs for derivatives users and could disrupt cross-border business, according to Anthony Belchambers, chief executive of the FOA.
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Provisions in the Wall Street Reform Act which force banks to post more margin for derivatives trades and spin off some swap dealing activities will have unforeseen consequences, a lawyer has warned.
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May was a record month for the global futures and options markets – and by a huge margin. FOi’s database reports that 2.204bn contracts changed hands in the month.
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Derivatives specialists in London were today digesting the news of a radically changed UK regulatory structure, due to be introduced by 2012.
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Two proposed exchanges that would allow investors to hedge the risk of the profitability of Hollywood movies have polarised the US film industry. Wyn Jenkins reports on box office futures.
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May
Commodity trading advisors outperformed spectacularly in the traumatic markets of 2008, but were wrongfooted by the rebound in 2009. Have they emerged from the crisis with their appeal enhanced? Elise Coroneos reports.
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Derivatives trading has been volatile and volume has been high for a second week running, after the agreement of a euro zone debt rescue package last weekend and the formation of a new government in the UK.
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The Futures Industry Association has urged the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission to withdraw its proposal to introduce position limits on US energy derivatives trading.
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NYSE Euronext’s decision to stop using LCH.Clearnet and create two new clearing houses of its own will lead to a substantial change in the European clearing landscape, and will feed into the interoperability debate .
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Intercontinental Exchange’s £395m ($604m) takeover of Climate Exchange will give the group a further grip on the booming European energy markets, a senior London-based analyst has said.
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April
March was a dramatic month in listed derivatives markets, Futures and Options Intelligence's data report revealed this week.
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Interest in gold, silver and other precious metals has soared during the financial crisis – and with it their prices. But is this just a speculative craze that will vanish as quickly as it came? Owen Sanderson reports.
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The closure of the world's trading pits has isolated traders in front of flashing screens from Korea to Essex. Now, the social media phenomenon is offering to reconnect people - and futures and options specialists are loving it. Tom Osborn reports.
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It was a long time coming, but the recovery in listed interest rate derivatives now seems well under way. But as Elise Coroneos reports, the market will not just go back to the way it was; this year is going to be lively.
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Cement is one of the world’s most widely used and traded materials. Yet all attempts to offer futures on it have failed. Ben Beasley-Murray investigates.
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March
New contracts typically struggle to succeed. And they struggle all the more when times are tough. But, as Colin Packham discovers, while the majority of most new contracts in 2009 failed to attract interest, there were some notable winners, particularly in China.
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BM&F Bovespa and CETIP are readying a series of initiatives that should incentivise diversity in an equity options market dominated by just two names. Elise Coroneos reports.
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The need for speed and the race to drive down latency has been one of the most keenly fought contests of 2009. As Mike West reports, there is every indication that this trend is set to continue.
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With a record 3.6bn equity options contracts traded last year and some nine exchanges serving the market by the end of the year, is there room for more growth? Elise Coroneos reports.
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The Copenhagen summit was a heavy blow to the hopes of environmentalists – and to prospects for a much bigger global carbon market. But emissions traders are taking it in their stride, as Siân Williams discovers.
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The exceptional surge in Brazilian interest rate futures trading last week was caused by uncertainty over the future of the Brazilian central bank’s rate setting team, a source has told FOW.
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The Securities and Exchange Board of India has approved in principle the introduction of physically delivered equity derivatives.
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February
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s long-awaited announcement on January 14 of a new policy on controlling energy speculation was greeted in the market with quiet relief and satisfaction.
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Gauging how many derivatives staff lost their jobs in the financial crisis and what effect that had on pay is not easy. Some segments of the market have remained bullish, however, as Hugo Cox discovers.
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With the launch of Singapore Exchange’s Fuel Oil Futures just days away, market participants have told Futures and Options Intelligence that the Asian bourse could succeed where two others have tried and failed.
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Every year, people live longer. That may sound nice, but it’s a big problem for the financial industry, especially pensions providers. Firms would love to be able to trade and hedge longevity risk, but there have been few practical solutions – until now.