Following up on our past LIBOR posts, in this update on the transition away from LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate), and other interbank offering rates (“IBOR”) denominated in other currencies, we discuss some recent issuances by global and US government regulators on the LIBOR transition. The LIBOR transition requires considerable work from all market
Commodities & Derivatives
The LIBOR Transition – ISDA Consultation Market Responses
Following up on our past posts, this update on the transition away from LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate), and other interbank offering rates (“IBOR”) denominated in other currencies, we discuss in this post the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Summary of Responses to the ISDA Consultation on Final Parameters for the Spread and Term…
The LIBOR Transition – ARRC’s LIBOR Fallback Language for Residential Mortgages
Following up on our past posts, this update on the transition away from LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate), and other interbank offering rates (“IBOR”) denominated in other currencies, concerns the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (“ARRC”), and the adoption by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (which are US government-sponsored enterprises in the housing finance market) of…
The LIBOR Transition – the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)
Following up on our previous post, “The LIBOR Transition — What is LIBOR and why is it important?”, from earlier this week, in this update on the transition away from LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate) as the reference rate of choice for financial transactions, we discuss one such alternative, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate…
The LIBOR Transition — What is LIBOR and why is it important?
Since its creation by the British Bankers Association in the 1980s, the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) has been used as a reference rate for borrowing costs between banks. The LIBOR calculation today is coordinated by the International Continental Exchange Benchmark Administration, which receives information on a daily basis from a group of global money…
Three US Agencies issue joint statement on activities involving digital assets
On October 11, 2019, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the US anti-money laundering (AML) agency, along with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) (collectively, the “Agencies”) issued a joint statement on digital assets activities (“Statement”), reminding the businesses under their jurisdictions that digital assets activities may be…
Recent Volcker Rule changes and non-US banks
The Volcker Rule prohibits “banking entities” (generally, insured banks and their affiliates, and non-US banks with US banking operations) from engaging in proprietary trading or sponsoring or investing in private equity funds. Regulations initially implementing the rule were adopted by the federal banking, commodities and securities regulators (Agencies) in 2014.
In 2018, the Agencies proposed…
US Senate Confirms Heath Tarbert as New CFTC Chairman
On June 5, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 84-9 to confirm Dr. Heath P. Tarbert as the new Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Dr. Tarbert currently serves as the Acting Under Secretary for International Affairs for the U.S. Treasury Department. His previous government experience includes roles as Special Counsel to the Senate…
CFTC Division of Enforcement Publishes Enforcement Manual
On May 8, 2019, the Division of Enforcement (“Division”) of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (”CFTC”) announced that it had published its Enforcement Manual (“Manual”). This is the first issuance of a public Manual. Prior to this publication, the Manual was only available internally as a general reference to the Division’s Staff during their investigation…
In anticipation of Brexit, US regulators address status of certain swaps under the Swaps Margin Rule
With the next 10 days being crucial in the Brexit process, following the UK House of Commons rejecting the draft withdrawal agreement for a third time and the European Council calling an emergency summit for April 10, 2019, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the US banking, farm credit and housing agencies have issued…