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Fed Meets with Market Players to Discuss CDS Clearing House Plans
Originally appeared in MiFID Monitor The New York Federal Reserve has organised a meeting this week with market players involved in the credit derivatives sector, including representatives from both the buy side and the sell side, to discuss the various industry initiatives to establish credit default swap (CDS) clearing houses. It is expected that the…
Most Institutions Dissatisfied with Valuations Providers, Says PRMIA and OTC Val
Most institutions are dissatisfied with the valuations services being provided to them, according to a recent survey by the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA) and OTC Valuations (OTC Val). The survey, entitled “Transparency and Independence of Derivative Valuations – Current Practices, Trends, Challenges, and Recommendations”, looks at the valuations practices within 483 firms in…
IFDS Appoints Ex-Pershing Head Barrett as Client Administration Exec
Originally appeared in MiFID Monitor International Financial Data Services (IFDS), the international transfer agency joint venture between State Street Corporation and DST Systems, has appointed Richard Barrett as group executive of client administration responsible for dealing, registration, administration control as well as IFDS’ distributor services functions. In his new role, Barrett will report to Jon…
Interactive Data Launches Fair Value Information Service for Equity Derivatives
Interactive Data Corporation’s Pricing and Reference Data business has launched a Fair Value Information Service that covers international equity index futures, international exchange listed and OTC equity options. According to the vendor, this service is aimed at helping institutions to meet their fair value requirements for portfolios that contain these financial instruments. Shant Harootunian, managing…
Julius Finance Calls for Standardised House Price Appreciation Scenarios for CDO Valuations
Standardised house price appreciation scenarios should be used in the valuation of complex financial products such as mortgage backed CDOs, according to Julius Finance, CDO valuation technology provider. Peter Cotton, CEO of Julius Finance, explains that a “rigorous approach” is needed to accurately price these products. Julius Finance provides standardised scenarios for corporate defaults using…
European Fund Administration Upgrades to Aim Software’s Golden Copy
Luxembourg-based European Fund Administration (EFA) has decided to upgrade to Aim Software’s flagship Golden Copy solution with a view to optimising the processing of reference data from Telekurs and Bloomberg. EFA implemented the Gain platform in 2004 but it says that factors such as volume increases in data have forced it to upgrade to a…
DTCC Hires Ex-Merrill COO Peiffer as Managing Director and General Auditor
Originally appeared in MiFID Monitor The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has hired ex-Merrill Lynch chief operating officer for global compliance Robert Peiffer as managing director and general auditor. He will lead the internal audit activities of the DTCC and its global subsidiaries, with international responsibility. Peiffer will be based in New York and…
Goldman Sachs Selects Derivix for Real-time Options Pricing and Analytics
Goldman Sachs has selected Derivix as the exclusive provider for advanced real-time options pricing and analytics within its Goldman Sachs Electronic Trading (GSET) Signature Programme. According to the vendor, the selection was driven by client demand for fast, accurate and efficient analytics. As a signature partner in the programme, Derivix’s options pricing, analytics and risk…
Interactive Data Steps into Valuations Arena with Prism Valuation Agreement
Interactive Data Corporation’s Pricing and Reference Data business has signed an exclusive agreement with Prism Valuation, under which Interactive Data will be able to provide valuations of complex OTC derivatives and structured products as part of its pricing and evaluation services. The agreement will enable the vendor to further expand and enhance the breadth and…
Deutsche Postbank Picks Asset Control’s AC Plus
German bank Deutsche Postbank has selected Asset Control’s AC Plus financial and reference data management software to provide pricing data to the bank’s risk control department and support its internal value at risk (VaR) model for market risk. Phil Lynch, Asset Control’s president and CEO, says that the vendor has been speaking to the bank…