A new rule removes the requirement to clear IBOR-based swaps and extends mandatory clearing to swaps on IBOR alternatives. By Yvette D. Valdez and Adam Bruce Fovent On August 12, 2022, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) voted to amend its mandatory clearing requirements for interest rate swaps (the Rule). The vote furthers the … Continue Reading
As a major LIBOR transition milestone approaches, a Staff Statement provides key considerations for market participants regarding their obligations. By Laura N. Ferrell, Marlon Q. Paz, Zach Lippman, and Deric Behar On December 7, 2021, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a statement (the Statement) on the transition away from the … Continue Reading
As the countdown to the LIBOR sunset enters its final six months, the CFTC staff is trying to help the market transition. By Yvette D. Valdez and Deric Behar With less than six months to go before the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) expires on December 31, 2021, regulators around the world have been amplifying … Continue Reading
By Becky Critchley and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 5 March 2021, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) formally announced the dates for the cessation of all London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) benchmark settings currently published by ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA). The FCA also confirmed that where a “synthetic” LIBOR is available after the cessation dates, the … Continue Reading
The launch of the Protocol and the Supplement represents a key landmark in the transition away from IBORs but is not a one-stop solution. By Yvette D. Valdez, Becky Critchley, Adam Bruce Fovent, J. Ashley Weeks, Deric Behar, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On October 23, 2020, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) published its … Continue Reading
Regulators and industry groups strongly encourage market participants to adopt ISDA’s much-anticipated IBOR Fallbacks Protocol and Definitions Supplement. By Yvette D. Valdez, Becky Critchley, Deric Behar, and Anna Lewis-Martinez The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has published a statement from its Board of Directors confirming that on October 23, 2020 it will launch its … Continue Reading
The relief removes regulatory obstacles and provides additional flexibility for market participants. By Yvette D. Valdez, Adam Bruce Fovent, and J. Ashley Weeks On August 31, 2020, three divisions of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued revised no-action letters providing additional relief to swap dealers, end users, and other market participants from registration … Continue Reading
In anticipation of LIBOR discontinuation, the SEC will begin examining transition progress. By Vicki E. Marmorstein, Jane Summers, Yvette D. Valdez, Stephen P. Wink, Douglas K. Yatter, and Deric Behar Nearly a year after the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) release of a Staff Statement on LIBOR Transition, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections … Continue Reading
The proposals enhance the FCA’s powers to ensure an orderly wind-down of critical benchmarks and to deal with “tough legacy” contracts that cannot transition from LIBOR. By Nicola Higgs and Ella McGinn On 23 June 2020, the FCA published a statement welcoming HM Treasury’s announcement that the Treasury intends to bring forward legislation to amend … Continue Reading
The FCA, the Bank of England, and members of the Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates have stated that firms should still plan for the transition away from LIBOR at the end of 2021. By Becky Critchley, Jonathan Ritson-Candler, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 25 March 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), after discussions with … Continue Reading
10 Key Regulatory Focus Areas for UK/European Wholesale Markets in 2019 By David Berman, Carl Fernandes Nicola Higgs, Rob Moulton, and Charlotte Collins This blog post explores developments relating to the EU Benchmarks Regulation and the transition away from LIBOR. This is the third blog of this series, which has been taken from our wider publication: 10 Key Regulatory Focus Areas for … Continue Reading
FEMR progress report commends the efforts of firms to drive higher market standards By Rob Moulton and Katy Sanders HM Treasury (HMT), Bank of England (BoE), and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have issued a progress report in relation to the Fair and Effective Markets Review (FEMR). The progress report follows almost three years after … Continue Reading
