These days, trading takes place in nanoseconds. But the process of setting up the mechanics of that trading process has remained cumbersome manual work. That is changing now for traders of CME products. The Chicago-based exchange has released the CME Reference Data API that contains detailed specifications on all available products including futures, spreads, strategies and options, making it possible for much of this information to be uploaded automatically.
CONTINUE READINGInvestment bankers who work on mergers and acquisitions in the finance sector had a busy year in 2018. Some of the biggest names in capital markets were involved in billion-dollar deals to expand their businesses. There was also a significant number of smaller deals, particularly among technology vendors and brokerages looking to expand their geographic footprint, target a niche market, or bring in additional capabilities. The following six M&A transactions reflect key trends in the global capital markets and indicate what kind of deals we might expect in the year to come. In some cases, such as CME Group's acquisition of NEX, the transactions involved companies directly engaged in the trading and clearing of derivatives. In other cases, such as Intercontinental Exchange's acquisition of Bondpoint, the transactions were outside the derivatives markets, but we have included them on the list because of their implications for trading technology, data solutions and market structure.
CONTINUE READINGFIA has compiled a list of 30 noteworthy transactions from 2018 related to derivatives markets in some way. Collectively, these deals reflect key trends in the global capital markets and indicate what kind of deals we might expect in the year to come.
CONTINUE READINGWith the U.K. set to leave the European Union in March, Germany is becoming a more important center for financial institutions doing business in the EU. This raises the profile of BaFin, Germany’s main supervisor for the financial services sector. BaFin is responsible for the supervision of a wide range of financial services, including capital markets, banking institutions and insurance. Within the capital markets sector, this includes oversight of the two main derivatives clearinghouses in Germany, Eurex Clearing and European Commodity Clearing, as well as one central securities depository, Clearstream.
CONTINUE READINGFIA holds a showcase for fintech startups each year at the FIA Expo, its annual trade show in Chicago. The startups at the Innovators Pavilion are selected by an independent committee comprised of technology experts, venture capital investors and derivatives industry executives. To qualify, the startups must offer a technology solution that is both innovative and relevant for companies in the listed and cleared derivatives markets.
CONTINUE READINGThe production of palm oil, the most popular vegetable oil on the planet, comes with some serious problems. In Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Asia, rainforests have been destroyed to create palm oil plantations, displacing endangered species and causing irreparable harm to the environment.
CONTINUE READINGEach year, EQDerivatives conducts a “market mapping” analysis of the global equity and volatility derivatives market, including its potential for growth in the coming years. The analysis is based on the views of buyside firms around the globe: asset managers, hedge funds, pension funds, private banks, family offices and insurance companies. The findings and analysis provide a map of how equity and volatility derivatives are deployed by managers globally, as well as the types of listed and over-the-counter derivatives that they tend to use most frequently.
CONTINUE READINGFIA today released summary statistics for annual trading activity in the global exchange-traded derivatives markets that showed record activity in 2018
CONTINUE READINGFIA joined with the International Swaps and Derivatives Association and the Institute of International Finance in responding to a discussion paper issued by the Financial Stability Board on the treatment of CCP equity in resolution
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