Stories

• Bandwidth 03 March 2003

  Despite continued decline in the technology, media and telecoms sector, there have been some encouraging developments in the bandwidth market, with a number of technical advances and the establishment of a bandwidth exchange in Scotland facilitating more network demand.

• Best foot foward............. 03 March 2003

  The 'new kid on the block' fear that comes with walking into a new office, full of people you do not know is something that doesn't diminish well into our careers. The knowledge that you have only a short time to impress the people that you will spend the next few years with can strike fear into the heart of even the most confident operator.

• Briefs 03 March 2003

• Briefs 03 March 2003

• Convertible bonds 03 March 2003

  During 2002, issuance was slow for convertible bonds, with experts predicting that the market would continue to be dominated by credit considerations. This is certainly a trend that has followed through to 2003. There have been no new convertible issues in Europe so far this year; however, there is a window of opportunity in the market for balanced convertible bonds.

• Credit Derivatives 03 March 2003

• Derivatives use in pension funds 03 March 2003

  The world of pension fund investment has changed considerably in order to adapt to today's economic climate. Stephen Ashworth* examines the range of derivatives available to help these funds manage their risk

• Dynamism in Brazil 03 March 2003

  Diana Kinch investigates the recent initiatives undertaken by Brazil's São Paulo-based derivatives exchange, Bolsa de Mercadorias & Futuros (BM&F)

• Editorial Comment 03 March 2003

• Freights's united front 03 March 2003

• Germany - Phoenix from the flames 03 March 2003

  It has been a sobering year for Germany's economy. However, the country's derivatives market continues to grow. Hope Stephens explains why this is the case and looks at the potential for the future

• Global fx 03 March 2003

  Lingering fears over the situation in Iraq have ensured a quiet start to the year. However, although the past month has been characterised by mainly sideways trading, the general theme remained the same, and that was the expectation of a weaker dollar.

• GNI staff transfer continues 03 March 2003

  Man Financial last month continued the migration of GNI staff over to its Sugar Quay offices, with the movement of the institutional contracts for difference (CFD) team.

• Internalisation - the juy's out 03 March 2003

  Depending on who you talk to, internalisation is either the best thing since sliced bread or an anti-competitive plan to bring European exchanges to their knees. It is a subject that has, almost overnight, divided the financial markets and caused a rift a mile wide between its exponents and denigrators. To date, the furore has focused on the equities markets, but derivatives will undoubtedly follow

• Introduction to derivatives: exchange traded funds and single stock futures 03 March 2003

  In the second part of this series, we get down to basics with equity derivatives, taking an in-depth look at exchange traded funds and single stock futures. Both products share success on a worldwide scale

• New issue arbitrage 03 March 2003

• No need to panic 03 March 2003

• Products & Regulation 03 March 2003

• Quote Unquote 03 March 2003

• R&N awaits fate 03 March 2003

  Following the formal buyout offer made by its management team at the beginning of February, Rolfe & Nolan shareholders were awaiting a rival bid from US technology firm OnExchange as FOW went to press.

• Rand swaps 03 March 2003

  A combination of a dwindling number of smaller South African banks and less interest from international swaps players has caused liquidity in the rand interest rate swaps (IRS) market to suffer in the past few months, particularly in the longer end of the market above ten years.

• Ratings 03 March 2003

• Ratings under fire 03 March 2003

  Are we about to see a major shake up of the credit rating industry or will the agencies emerge from the regulator's gaze unscathed?

• Restoring faith in energy 03 March 2003

  Corinne Smith explores the steps that hav ebeen taken since the Enron debacle to improve credit risk management in the energy industry

• Rising to success 03 March 2003

  The equity market downturn has fuelled significant growth in inflration linked derivatives

• Seminars to tackle post-N2 recruitment 03 March 2003

  A new programme of seminars run by Exchange Consulting aims to help ensure that the recruitment process at UK firms meets the regulatory requirements of Financial Services Authority (FSA).

• Swapping agreements 03 March 2003

  Brett Hills* looks at the recently revised Isda Master Agreement

• Synthetic assets: structured investment vehicles 03 March 2003

  In this the final part of his series on synthetic assets, Satajit Das examines structured investment vehicles (SIVs)

• Taxation of UK derivatives Part 2 03 March 2003

  In the second part of a six-part series on the UK taxation of derivatives, Errol Danziger* looks at FRS 13

• Technology Briefs 03 March 2003

• The CBoT connection 03 March 2003

  The year 2003 is proving to be a year of strategic positioning for Chicago Board of Trade (CBoT). After a period of some upheaval for the exchange, during which it has undergone a change of management, grappled with the implementation of its new governance structure and juggled the merits of electronic and floor trading, the exchange is now emerging as a more dynamic, constructive and positive force.

• The emerging hybrid 03 March 2003

  Technology and the development of electronic platforms have undoubtedly transformed the inter-dealer broking landscape. However, as Jane Douglas-Jones finds, the voice broker is stronger now than ever

• The equity and credit play 03 March 2003

  Equity derivatives and credit derivatives are becoming increasingly interlinked

• The FOW Interview: Patrice Blanc. Emma Davey interviews Patrice Blanc, chairman and ceo of Fimat 03 March 2003

  For a firm universally known in the futures and options industry as a key player, it is perhaps surprising to hear its chairman and ceo Patrice Blanc state that "Fimat cannot be considered to be an FCM [futures commission merchant] any more".

• The synthetic CDO 03 March 2003

  In the second of a three-part series on synthetic securitisation structures, Moorad Choudhry* analyses managed synthetic CDOs

• The trouble with accounting standards 03 March 2003

  Many market players are growing increasingly concerned that it is only a matter of time before another derivatives scandal emerges. However, this time the expectation is that a dent will be put in a high profile company's balance sheet not because of the misuse of derivatives, but rather because of their non-use. Lee Oliver investigates

• What "energy crisis"? 03 March 2003