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Dodd-Frank is here – certainty is years away 16 July 2010

The US Senate opened a new chapter in financial markets history yesterday afternoon by passing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act by 60 votes to 39.
Editorial: How the West was saved 15 July 2010

It’s lucky the cavalry happened to be passing. Deputies O’Malia and Dunn were sound asleep when Cantor and Veriana’s Knockabout Hollywood Carnival rolled into town and tried to pitch its tents in the main square.
Two cooks spoil the broth 28 June 2010

Asking the SEC and CFTC to cooperate on new derivatives rules sounds like a great idea. But Philip McBride Johnson has a word of warning. The two see eye to eye about as much as Barack Obama and Sarah Palin.
The slackers who look after our money 11 June 2010

Why haven’t more investment firms sued Wall Street banks for selling them trashy bonds? Could it be, asks Philip McBride Johnson, because they are scared their own ineptitude will come to light?

Fat-tailed and frantic: why volatility is beating up the options market 28 July 2010

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.
Volcker-lite and Lincoln-lite: Chinese walls or Swiss cheese? 02 July 2010

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.
Forced split of swaps desks is dangerous, warns Belchambers 28 June 2010

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.
Reform bill will hold unforeseen consequences, warns lawyer 28 June 2010

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.

Milan: the ideal derivatives community? 23 July 2010

Milan’s Italian Derivatives Exchange Market boasts a diverse customer base of local retail and institutional investors, prop shops and banks. Tom Osborn visits the exchange fast becoming the jewel in the LSE’s crown.
Japan’s last chance to lead again 18 June 2010

Japan's derivatives market has not kept up with advances elsewhere. But now there are signs that the exchanges have realised the situation is desperate. They are performing long-overdue IT upgrades and launching new contracts – but is it too late? Colin Packham reports.
China: holding back growth 07 June 2010

Despite the enormous numbers of derivatives being traded on China’s exchanges, the authorities are intent on establishing secure, non-speculative markets than on promoting volume growth. Colin Packham reports.
Asia and Latin America: the new frontier for algo trading 27 May 2010

As Hugo Cox discovers, there is plenty of appetite for high speed trading in Asia and Brazil, from both the traders and the exchanges. All that needs to happen is for barriers to be cleared away.

Forget interoperability in derivatives clearing, says Liddell 23 July 2010

Roger Liddell, CEO of LCH.Clearnet, has said there is little prospect of interoperability between European derivatives clearing houses. The term means giving customers the choice of where their trades are cleared.
Taking on the big boys - Nicolas Bertrand interview 23 July 2010

Two exchanges have long dominated European financial derivatives – Eurex and Liffe. Nic Bertrand, the LSE’s head of equities and derivatives, told Siân Williams why he thinks the LSE can shake up the hierarchy.
Transaction data monitoring essential to industry's future, says Ce-Nif 28 May 2010

Allan Mendelowitz, head of Ce-Nif, has urged US legislators not to water down proposals contained within the Senate’s Wall Street Reform Act which would mandate data monitoring of all financial transactions.
DCE vows to expand product suite as exchange aims for global leader position 10 May 2010

In an intervioew with FOW, Jun Li, executive vice president at the Dalian Commodity Exchange, has said the exchange is examining increasing its product suite.