Risk Audit - Training and Recruitment
Friday, 10 February 2012

Collateral – Race to the Bottom

One really does have to question whether the G20 derivatives proposals are really in the longer term interests of stability.

The principles are aimed at making the derivatives world a safer place by mandating the central clearing of many forms of OTC instruments.

The idea is that this will reduce credit risk in the market by forcing central mechanisms to police the collateralisation of these trades.

Great idea so far until one turns the stone over.

CME Group has announced that from March 12th it will be accepting some form of corporate bonds and mortgage-backed securities as collateral for these instruments. This is due to an ever-decreasing supply of high quality assets that can be used as collateral.

The veneer of quality methinks.

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