The CFTC’s recent settlement liquidity stress test analysis of three well-known clearinghouses — CME Clearing, ICE Clear U.S., and LCH, Ltd. — finds that all three could “meet their settlement obligations on time,” despite simulated defaults by clearing members. The CFTC analysis, which follows its initial supervisory stress test of clearinghouses that was published in… Read More >>
Five Clearinghouses Pass CFTC’s Stress Test
Key clearinghouses for derivatives markets have “ample resources to withstand extremely stressful market scenarios,” according to CFTC Chairman Timothy Massad, who was commenting upon the results of the regulator’s supervisory stress test of CME Clearing; ICE Clear Credit, ICE Clear Europe and ICE Clear U.S., all part of the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE); and LCH Clearnet…. Read More >>
Hellish Stress Tests Will Be Getting Worse
As much as the industry hates them, stress tests to find weaknesses in regulatory compliance are not only a permanent part of the landscape, but they will be getting more difficult, says Cubillas Ding, a research director with the Securities & Investments practice of market research firm Celent. In his new report, “Stress Testing Solutions… Read More >>
Regulatory & Investor Demands Spur New Respect for Risk Ops
Risk management operations is finally coming into its own as post-Great Recession regulatory and investor pressures begin to bear down on buy- and sell-side firms in the U.S. and the European Union. On the sell side, big banks in the U.S. and the EU are being forced to take action by the crack of the… Read More >>
Survey: Risk Management Becoming More Strategic
Once viewed as a burdensome regulatory obligation, risk management is increasingly seen as a strategic core competency, according to a global survey of 200 risk managers carried out by SunGard and the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA). Key findings revealed: Stress testing capabilities were ranked as being lower priority than collateral consolidation and asset… Read More >>
Prime Brokerages Share Their Pain with Hedge Funds
For hedge funds, change is in the air as prime brokers contemplate pulling back on financing options and raising fees, leaving some funds to consider parking excess cash and long securities at custodian banks. Prime brokerage units of A-List firms are beginning to feel the squeeze as big banks face stiff pressure from regulators to… Read More >>