Central counterparties need to improve after Nasdaq Clearing member default, says Isda
Derivative central counterparties (CCPs) must look to make a number of improvements to risk practices, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has said in a paper that follows a clearing member default at Nasdaq Clearing in September

Majority of investors seek to increase private credit allocations, BlackRock survey reveals
Over half of investors plan to increase their allocation to private credit in 2019, according to an institutional client rebalancing report published by BlackRock

Singapore fund to lend to financial institutions in emerging and developing markets
Singapore’s EFA Group is aiming to raise $100 million for a fund that will lend to banks and financial institutions in emerging and developing economies

Market favours retrospective over forward-looking approach to Ibor benchmark fallbacks, says Isda
New benchmark fallbacks for derivatives contracts that reference interbank offered rates are likely to be based on the “compounded setting in arrears rate” and the “historical mean/median approach to the spread adjustment”, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has said

Los Angeles pension backs Lone Star fund
Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension System has approved a commitment of up to $40 million to Lone Star Fund XI, according to a monthly report  

Korean pension fund commits €80 million to European direct lending
The Government Employees Pension Service (GEPS), the €7.7 billion Korean pension fund, has selected Alcentra and BlueBay Asset Management for two commingled blind funds, according to an announcement notice seen by Creditflux.  

Dai-ichi anchors global infrastructure debt fund with $176 million
Asset Management One Alternative Investments has joined together with Dai-ichi Life Insurance to launch a new global infrastructure debt fund

Derivatives margin threshold should be €100 billion notional not €8 billion, says Isda
A regulatory threshold that requires counterparties to post initial margin (IM) on derivatives trades if they hold €8 billion notional or more exposure should be raised to €100 billion, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has argued

Eaton Vance adds former Janus Henderson official as credit portfolio manager
Dónal Kinsella joins as institutional portfolio manager for the firm’s corporate credit strategies

Isda transfers credit determinations secretary role to subsidiary
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has relinquished its role as secretary to the credit derivatives determinations committees (DCs) with the appointment of a new unit, DC Administration Services (DCAS), to manage this function

Isda extends deadline for derivatives benchmark consultation
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has extended the fast-approaching deadline for its consultation on derivatives benchmark fallbacks, to allow more time for responses

Astaldi triggers first credit event in iTraxx on-the-run indices for nine years
Astaldi has triggered a bankruptcy credit event, the Isda-hosted EMEA Credit Determinations Committee has ruled

Astaldi credit event question posed as its distress weighs on iTraxx Crossover
Astaldi, a constituent of iTraxx Crossover, has been referred to ISDA-hosted Credit Determinations Committees as a possible bankruptcy credit event – less than two weeks after the index rolled into a new series

BlackRock becomes latest manager to explore interval fund structure for credit
Several managers have hit the market with the interval fund structure, as investors look to invest in illiquid strategies through an illiquid fund structure

Four private credit managers score as Arizona pension fund commits $250 million
The $9.78 billion pension fund has mandated nearly $250 million to four private credit managers, alongside additional commitments for co-investment opportunities 

Pimco receives nearly $400 million for ESG fixed income mandate
 An $11 billion super fund has awarded a new ESG-focused fixed income mandate to Pimco

Turkey CDS rallies back inside 500bp on Qatar help, but curve remains inverted
Turkey’s sovereign five year credit default swap is back below 500bp today, following the financially embattled country’s recent spread blow-out

BlackRock unveils ESG-focused emerging market debt suite
BlackRock has launched a series of emerging market debt funds that will have an environmental,social and governance (ESG) focus

BlueArc brings in nearly $70 million for global private credit fund
At least 100 investors have backed the BlueArc Global Private Credit Opportunity Fund, managed by Atlanta-based BlueArc Capital 

Sovereign investors' allocation to alternative credit increase rapidly, finds survey
Sovereign investors are increasing their exposure to CLOs, direct lending and bank loans, according to a 2018 Global Sovereign Asset Management Study published by Invesco this week

Standard Chartered plans refocused SRT return
One of the biggest issuers of significant risk transfer (SRT) deals is returning to the market

BlackRock seeks $1 billion for new multi-strat opportunities fund
The new trust will invest at least 80% of its assets in fixed income securities and up to 40% in special situations, SEC filings reveal 

AB targets financials with new global credit fund
Global investment manager AB (previously known as AllianceBernstein) has today announced the launch of a new global Ucits credit fund – AB Financial Credit Portfolio

EM manager takes assets across two funds to $1.4 billion after big inflows
Two funds managed by a New York-headquartered firm have reached a combined $1.4 billion after big inflows

Lombard Odier mandates US manager for emerging markets debt fund
Swiss private bank Lombard Odier has selected a Los Angeles-based manager for a new emerging markets debt fund