IHS Markit launches derivatives initial margin calculator
IHS Markit has launched an Initial Market Calculation Service to help market participants prepare to meet regulatory requirements for non-cleared derivatives trades across credit, commodities, equities, FX and interest rates

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

Dealers show appetite to retain tranches amid CSO growth
There are increasing numbers of dealers involved in the CSO market and their approach to issuing bespokes is evolving, attendees at Creditflux’s Credit Dimensions conference heard last month.

Past returns: secret CLO market
Five years ago in Creditflux, we reported on the emergence of an inter-dealer market for CLOs

Points up front: super senior CSO investors wanted
As part of a vibrant opening panel at Creditflux’s Credit Dimensions event in New York last month, we came tantalisingly close to issuing a managed CSO in front of a live audience (if you ignore formalities such as warehousing risk and sourcing single name CDS)

Being long-only is just so 1980s
At the Credit Dimensions event in New York, structured credit investors looking to spruce up or repair their portfolios were advised to look at CSOs, index tranches and credit default swaps

Central clearer resource concentration puts systemic risk in spotlight
A joint study by regulators has revealed that default resources are increasingly concentrated in just two central counterparties

Steep climb: dealers and investors cross-examine merits of five-year CSOs
The market for bespoke tranches of credit synthetic obligations (CSOs) looks set for further year-on-year growth, but this could depend on expanding activity to longer tenors

Cheyne more than doubles assets for credit fund in five months
Cheyne Capital has more than doubled assets for Cheyne Total Return Credit Fund December 2023 – in the space of just five months

Alarm sounds on margin rules as small funds look to make early inroads
A fast-approaching 1 September regulatory deadline for phase three market participants to apply initial margin (IM) to derivatives trades looks set to pass without serious mishap, according to lawyers and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association

Trimming hedge costs with a mark-to-market approach

New rules encourage growth in blossoming risk sharing market
Significant risk transfer deals have generally been issued towards the end of the year – but the first quarter of 2018 has opened with a flurry of deals across primary and secondary markets

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

LCH expands into US with CDSClear as JP Morgan goes live
CDSClear, the Paris-based credit default swap clearing house of LCH, has expanded its reach into the US with JP Morgan becoming the first US bank to offer client clearing

Global head of credit correlation leaves JP Morgan to launch new hedge fund
Market sources say that a high profile figure, known to have been responsible for unwinding JP Morgan's 'London whale' positions, has left the bank to start his own hedge fund

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 

Talk turns towards five-year deals as bespokes flourish
There is growing appetite for longer-dated synthetic CDOs as credit curves steepen and competition among dealers steps up, but short mezz positions have also been working

There are no perfect hedges for CLOs
As the CLO market gets hotter and hotter, investors are seeking hedges against the inevitable downturn. But although there are a wide range of options, there is no consensus on which is best
 

Points up front: Catholic taste does not include credit derivatives
Is the pope a credit picker? It appears as though he is 

Experienced CSAM holds off boutiques to win biggest prize
Credit Suisse Asset Management became a two-time winner of the Creditflux Manager of the Year award last month after picking up the 2018 trophy in front of a packed house at London’s Landmark Hotel on 9 May

Hermes launches £185 million unconstrained credit fund
London-based Hermes Investment Management has launched a new Ucits-compliant unconstrained credit fund - which will include pricing ESG risks

Credit Agricole hires head of US credit trading and head of ABS syndicate
Credit Agricole has strengthened its US credit platform by hiring Anatoly Nakum as head of credit trading for the Americas, and Beth Starr as head of ABS syndicate for the same region

Destra and BlueBay team up to launch credit interval fund
Destra has become the latest manager to launch an interval fund - Destra International & Event-Driven Credit Fund - which will focus on two strategies: multi-strategy international credit  and event driven credit.