Market making begins in German bank senior preferred CDS
Dealers will today begin making markets in senior preferred CDS of German banks, following the implementation of a protocol created by the International Swaps & Derivatives Association

LCH signs up first Italian member to CDSClear
Banca IMI, the investment bank of Intesa Sanpaolo, has signed up as the first Italian member of CDSClear at LCH SA, the French clearing unit of London Stock Exchange-owned LCH Group

Three "critical safeguards" required for competitive loan syndication, European Commission says
The European Commission has published its final report on European loan syndication and the impact of competition in credit markets, in which it outlines three "critical safeguards"

Esma amends recognitions for UK CCPs in event of no-deal Brexit
The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) will continue to recognise three UK-based central counterparties (CCPs) and the UK Central Securities Depository (CSD) in the event of a no-deal Brexit on 12 April

Distressed specialists monitor weaknesses in direct lending
Stressed and distressed debt managers might be best served by looking at the direct lending market for opportunities. Sources say that two of the most experienced direct lenders in the business have been forced to deal with problem credits in their portfolios

Leveraged loans pose credit risk but not systemic risk, conference told
Regulators and the press need to understand the difference between credit risk and systemic risk, claimed panelists at the IMN European CLOs and Leveraged Loans conference

Ashurst hires counsel with structured products experience
Ashurst has appointed a counsel in its global markets practice in Paris

European regulators lower Solvency II capital charges for private debt
The European Commission has amended Solvency II rules to make it easier for insurance companies to invest in private debt and private equity

CDS relative value traders shift their bets as Europe trades inside US
Credit derivative markets have hit a point of position cutting and resetting, with the iTraxx Europe index having dipped inside its US counterpart CDX IG for the first time since December even as the European Central Bank’s new funding programme underwhelmed financials traders

Securitisation Regulation hits European ABS issuance
Issuance in traditional European ABS has been notably slow in the first two months of 2019 following the introduction of the new Securitisation Regulation.

Private credit body urges regulators to remove barriers
The Alternative Credit Council (ACC) is lobbying for policy makers to remove barriers in some EU countries that restrict the ability of non-bank lenders to operate

Initial margin relief falls short of industry calls
Reprieve for many smaller counterparties from a requirement to post initial margin (IM) on derivative trades looks likely, following a statement from regulators this week

US dollar three-month is focus point for benchmarks, finds Ice Libor survey
One-, three- and six-month US dollar and sterling are the focus points for Ice Benchmark Administration to seek agreement with banks, according to the results of IBA’s survey on uses of Libor

Isda extends German CDS protocol deadline beyond March index roll
The International Swaps & Derivatives Association (Isda) has extended the deadline for market participants to adhere to its German bank CDS protocol after it became clear a number of affected parties would not be signed up in time

US and UK sound post-Brexit derivatives regulatory accord
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Bank of England have issued a joint statement assuring derivative market participants of continued access to trading and clearing after the UK’s exit from the European Union

Dentons boosts derivatives practice in London with two partner
Dentons has added two partners to its derivatives practice in London

Esma grants no-deal Brexit recognition for UK central clearers
The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) has moved to avoid a derivatives market debacle by agreeing to recognise three UK-based central counterparties (CCPs) in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Behave yourselves: EBA policy advisor warns against misuse of securitisation rules
The European securitisation market has come a long way over the last decade, and the message from one policy advisor is clear – don’t do anything to mess it up.

DTCC appoints Deriv/Serv board chairman to replace Thompson
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has appointed a replacement board chairman of its Deriv/Serv credit derivatives repository following the retirement of Larry Thompson in December

SEC proposal could strengthen BDCs’ power to purchase funds
The Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) has released proposals to allow regulated US funds, including listed funds, closed-end funds and business development companies (BDCs), to acquire shares of other regulated funds in excess of current limitations

CDS lives to bring more fights as it steers past Ziggo and Sears
Credit default swaps have navigated two big tests of their rules, holding up to scrutiny on Ziggo Bond Finance (ZBF) and Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp (SRAC), despite warnings they could weaken the product

Isda sets 27 February deadline for German bank CDS protocol adherence
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) has launched a protocol for German bank CDS, as the industry looks to adapt to a change in the country’s law regarding senior financial debt

Bank of England agrees post-Brexit recognition of UK central clearers with Esma
The Bank of England and the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) have agreed to continue to recognise central counterparties (CCPs) and the central securities depository (CSD) established in the United Kingdom in the event of a no-deal Brexit

CDS food fight as UNFI sues Goldman Sachs over SuperValu deal
United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) has summoned Goldman Sachs to court, accusing the bank of bad faith in the way it handled the US retailer’s buyout of SuperValu last year, a transaction which caused the target firm’s CDS spread to bloat by over 200bp in one day