Global Coordinated Regulatory Reform For OTC Derivatives Is Creating A New Interest Rate Swap Market

Coordinated global regulation for the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets is creating a dramatically different market for interest rate swaps with central clearing for end-users, the use of organised trading facilities and increased transparency and reporting requirements, according to a new report from TABB Group.

The report suggests that alternative methods of managing exposure will see greater adoption due to regulatory reform, specifically in the U.S and Europe where efforts will force standardized derivatives onto trading facilities with central clearing. This will create a new trading landscape for OTC interest rate swaps.

"New central clearing requirements for end-users such as asset managers and hedge funds will require these clients to post initial margin and variation margin, substantially raising the cost of doing business particularly for longer dated instruments," says Andy Nybo, TABB principal, head of derivatives and author of the new report.

As transaction costs and other expenses associated with margin and capital requirements rise, TABB Group believes that market participants will be prompted to search for alternative methods of managing their interest rate exposure.

To date, several exchanges have offered a number of alternative instruments intended to replicate characteristics of interest rate swaps but, Nybo points out in the report, "their adoption has been anaemic as structural characteristics have limited their utility."

As final regulations move closer to completion, with the new market structure expected to require swaps to trade on organized trade facilities and swap execution facilities, Nybo says that market participants are not yet abandoning traditional interest rate swaps.

"Existing interest rate swap markets will continue to be critical for managing global interest rate exposures, especially for large active users in the financial, utilities, technology and industrial goods sectors, big consumers of capital who require significant liquidity across multiple currencies," he said. Melanie Rodier has worked as a print and broadcast journalist for over 10 years, covering business and finance, general news, and film trade news. Prior to joining Wall Street & Technology in April 2007, Melanie lived in Paris, where she worked for the International Herald ... View Full Bio