ISDA has today launched the 2021 Security-based Swaps (SBS) Top-Up Protocol. The Protocol allows firms that have adhered to either the August 2012 or March 2013 Dodd-Frank protocols to incorporate new SEC rules for SBS. The first registration date, in respect of certain of the new rules is 6 October 2021, SBS dealers must resister […]

The CFTC have published the final rule extending IM Phase 6 in today’s Federal Register. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final rule extends the Phase 6 deadline by one year to 1 September 2022 and has a retrospective effective date of 9 December 2020. The final rule updates the April 2020 “final” rule […]

At the request of the ARRC, the CFTC has today announced comprehensive relief to swap dealers and other market participants as they make the transition from swaps that reference LIBOR and other “Impaired Reference Rates” to those that reference alternative benchmarks. The relief comprises no-action letters from each of the Commission’s main divisions, broadly covering […]

The latest IM deadline passed at the start of this month without fanfare, and larger firms were able to breathe their fourth sigh of relief. A year from now, the challenge will not be as “easy”. In Phase 4, approximately 35 firms fell in-scope of the €750 bn threshold. Updated numbers for Phase 5 show […]

US regulators have disclosed the much awaited revision of the Volcker Rule that had been taken on by the Trump administration. Wall Street has undoubtedly received a huge win, but who is likely to bear the losses? The Volcker Rule was implemented after the financial crash to stop banks from engaging in proprietary trading (buying […]

Earlier today, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced their intention to adopt the BCBS/IOSCO’s revised implementation schedule. Their updated deadlines are as follows: For target institutions with Non-Cleared OTC derivatives of more than HKD 375 billion the date will be 1 September 2020. For target institutions with Non-Cleared OTC derivatives of more than HKD 60 […]

The Korean Regulator, FSS, is the latest regulator to announce that they will adopt the BCBS/IOSCO guidelines for mitigating risk for non-cleared OTC contracts. This decision follows a recent publication by the MAS (Singapore’s regulatory authority) where they stated that they would also use BCBS/IOSCO’s framework for Non-Centrally Cleared Derivatives in determining whether margin requirements […]

Confirming recent market rumours, BCBS\IOSCO have today announced their recommendation to stagger IM Phase 5 implementation over a two year period. An adjusted Phase 5 will apply to firms with an AANA equal to or greater than USD\EUR 50bn and less than 750bn. A new Phase 6, from 1 September 2020 to 1 September 2021, […]

Trailing in the wake of their northern neighbours, the CFTC has today issued a Staff Advisory confirming that there is no requirement for covered swap entities (CSEs) to put IM documentation and custody arrangements in place before the $50m threshold is reached.  As the conclusion to the Advisory notes: “Accordingly, to the extent the $50 […]