Rebuilding trust in equity markets: Entering a new world

Due to plummeting equity market values and strong risk aversion, a large swathe of the investor base is underweight in its target equity market allocations. Sooner or later – and even in the midst of continuing market uncertainty – these investors will reweight their portfolios. But what sort of product solutions are sellside firms putting on the table to encourage them back into the market?

Demand rises for the research perspective: Entering a new world

Equity derivatives research analysts, akin to their sales and trading counterparts, have their work cut out to gain exposure and generate client interest. Natasha de Terán looks at how the industry leaders are working to get noticed.

Towards liquidity and transparency: Entering a new world

Opacity and illiquidity have been the scourge of many an investor as the financial crisis has unfolded, and are now being heavily targeted in the regulatory counter-attack. Natasha de Terán examines how this has played to the strengths of the equity derivatives market.

What does the future hold for Structured Products?: Entering a new world

Two major banking blow outs, accusations of mis-selling and mounting counterparty risk concerns have all taken their toll on the structured products market. Natasha de Terán assesses the impact on the business and investigates how providers have responded to the challenges.

New questions, new answers

Natasha de Terán investigates how structured product providers have responded to the changes in equity derivatives market conditions and investor sentiment by rolling out a new breed of product.

Life after impact

The credit crunch is affecting every segment of the financial markets, including equity derivatives. Interpreting the repercussions, however, is no easy task.

The slow and steady journey to success

Property derivatives have been tracking a slow, circuitous path toward the investment mainstream for almost 20 years. But with property market risk firmly on investors’ minds, they may finally be nearing their destination. Natasha de Teran investigates.

After the shockwaves

Regulatory flack fell on operational shortfalls in the over-the-counter derivatives business early last year. In a round table discussion hosted by The Banker, market participants ponder the potential repercussions on the buy-side and sell-side. 

Let it blossom, let it flow

Natasha de Teran explores how the once simple flow business is growing in size and complexity, and how it is increasingly becoming pivotal to a successful equity derivatives franchise.

Managed account platform pioneers

Natasha de Teran looks inside the world of alternative investment managed account platforms and finds out who’s new, who’s top and why?

Sweetspot is buzzing

With related earnings soaring, the equity derivatives business has become one of the hottest areas to work in, writes Natasha de Teran.

Over-the-counter service

To meet the demands of hedge funds for over-the-counter instruments, a new and hugely lucrative prime brokerage service has emerged. Natasha de Teran examines OTC intermediation.

Seeking a wider audience for sophisticated products

Variance and volatility swaps have been among products to capture the minds of sophisticated derivatives players in recent years. Now bankers, index providers and their exchange counterparts are seeking to create standardised, simpler versions of the instruments to widen their uptake. 

Kick-starting the property derivatives market

Together with a growing band of property sector professionals, bankers are working to kick-start the fledgling property derivatives market. Natasha de Teran explores the market’s current development and its future potential.

A really useful instrument?

Credit derivatives were supposed to redistribute banks’ credit risk but how much of that risk has been transferred outside the banking sector is unknown. Does it matter? 

Derivatives-based solutions aim to solve ALM mismatch

As pension assets drop and future liabilities rise, traditionally conservative pension funds are turning to complex derivatives-based products. This offers a well-timed opportunity for investment banks that have the right skills.