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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 Polish Futures Market, a subsidiary of the Warsaw Commodities Exchange (WGT), has signed an agreement with WDX Organisation to list Wocu Futures and Options.
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June
DAS Trader – which its maker claims is the fastest software for the US stockmarket – has released new trading apps for Apple’s iPhone and iPad. But as Tom Osborn discovers, it faces a crowded field of competitors.
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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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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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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?
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Faststream, a recruitment firm specialising in shipping, marine and offshore industries, has formed a new team to find freight traders for banks, commodity trading houses and energy trading houses, especially in London and Geneva. It will be led by commercial shipping consultant Alistair Tudor.
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May
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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Coming soon to an Apple enthusiast near you. Nasdaq OMX has launched a portfolio manager application for Apple’s new iPad, similar to its existing product for the iPhone.
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RiskMetrics Group has partnered with Syncova to develop an integrated solution for risk-based margin management. The firm will provide this via the Optima platform for hedge funds and prime brokers. RiskMetrics Group provides risk management and corporate governance services. Syncova is an independent margin services provider.
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Vincent Cable, the Liberal Democrat shadow Chancellor, has said the exchange-traded futures industry serves as a model of transparency for the effective running of financial markets.
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April
Binary options are no backwater of the options market, argues derivatives educator Rick Thachuk. Rather, they are a growth product for retail investors that is about to take off – like retail FX trading a decade ago.
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March was a dramatic month in listed derivatives markets, Futures and Options Intelligence's data report revealed this week.
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The costs of surveillance and compliance systems for brokers, exchanges and multilateral trading facilities are expected to reach Eu185m by 2012, according to a report by Tabb Group, the research firm.
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Large companies moaning about having to post collateral against derivatives have forgotten the real value of hedging, argues Philip McBride Johnson.
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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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Futures and Options World invites market participants to choose the cleverest and most useful innovations of the past year.
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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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If the authorities compel clearing of OTC derivatives, they will be making a big mistake, argues Ruben Lee. The policy is likely to create problems, rather than solve them.
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Gary Gensler, the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in a speech to the European Parliament’s that reform of the way over-the-counter derivatives are regulated must be “comprehensive and international”.
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Newedge, the derivatives broker owned by Société Générale and Crédit Agricole, announced a reorganisation of its business yesterday at the annual Futures Industry Association conference in Boca Raton, Florida.
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The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has today published two reports designed to improve understanding of how collateral is used to mitigate credit risk in the over the counter derivative markets.
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February
2009 spelt retrenchment for the world’s established futures exchanges – but a commodities boom eased the pain. Tom Osborn picks out the bright spots from the laggards in the global recovery.
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Newedge, the derivatives and securities brokerage, has appointed Laurent Cunin as head of its Asia Pacific operations, based in Hong Kong.
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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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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.
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Intense work is going on towards a new edition of the ISDA standard definitions for OTC equity derivatives. Sapient's Nick Fry and Ed Osbaldestin urge the market to do better than the last time.