News Centre

Euronext And CF&B Communication Launch 2nd European ETF Event

Date 13/03/2014

Euronext, a wholly owned subsidiary of IntercontinentalExchange Group (NYSE: ICE), today joined CF&B Communication, creator and organiser of the European ETF Event, to announce their second European ETF Event, to be held in Paris at Espace Pierre Cardin on March 18.

CME Group Announces Winners Of 11th Annual Trading Challenge

Date 13/03/2014

CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced the winners of its 11^th annual CME Group Trading Challenge.  The four-week electronic trading competition provides teams of graduate and undergraduate students the chance to trade a variety of CME Group products across multiple asset classes.  The competition takes place in a simulated trading environment on a real-time professional platform provided by CQG and Dow Jones provides news feeds to inform the students of market events. This year, nearly 400 teams made up of 1,500 students participated in the challenge from 31 countries around the world - a record level of participation.

Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) Successfully Implements ALM Modeling Capabilities With Ortec Finance

Date 13/03/2014

Ortec Finance, a global provider of technology and advisory services for risk and return management, announced today that OMERS, Canada’s largest pension plan, has successfully completed the implementation of its Asset/Liability Management (ALM) solution for pension plans. The ALM modeling software solution provides OMERS with in-house ALM capabilities. This will enhance OMERS ability to review and assess its strategic asset mix in terms of its pension liability structure and funded status by analyzing the impact of possible future changes in economic environments, financial markets and demographic liability factors. 

European Commission: Regulatory Technical Standards To Implement The Single Banking Rule Book (Capital Requirements - CRD IV Package) - Frequently Asked Questions

Date 13/03/2014

See also IP/14/255

1. What is the CRDIV package on capital requirements?

The "CRD IV package" transposes - via a Regulation and a Directive - the new global standards on bank capital (the Basel III agreement) into EU law. It applies from 1 January 2014. This legislative framework tackles vulnerabilities shown by banking institutions during the financial crisis, namely the insufficient level of capital both in quantity and quality (See MEMO/13/690).

Europe Fixed-Income Investment Strategies Big Winners In 2013, According To New eVestment Report

Date 13/03/2014

eVestment has just released its European Investor Report highlighting trends in and insights on the traditional investment arena in 2013.  Some key findings, according to eVestment Vice President of Research Peter Laurelli, include:

1. Over 60% of all of Europe-domiciled institutional allocations went into fixed income strategies in 2013 and the majority of those assets went into relatively higher yielding segments of fixed income markets.
2. The vast majority of Europe-domicile flows in 2013 went into the BBB to BB segments of credit quality with roughly equal exposure on either side (A & CCC), showing specific evidence of the desire for yield.
3. Europe-domiciled investors have rewarded strategies that moved more nimbly away from safe havens post financial crisis.
4. Barring a major escalation of Eastern Europe’s tensions, eVestment’s recent institutional investor survey (also attached), along with data from this report indicate European investors’ increased risk appetite exhibited in 2013 should continue well beyond the near-term.

European Commission Adopts Nine Regulatory Technical Standards To Implement The Single Rule Book In Banking

Date 13/03/2014

The European Commission has adopted a package of Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) needed to implement important provisions of the Capital Requirements Regulation and Directive(CRR/CRD). The nine RTS define the ways in which competent authorities and market participants must, inter alia, handle disclosures linked to securitisation instruments, measure potential losses from derivative positions and counterparty failure, as well as specifying the types of instruments that can be used for paying bonuses.

European Parliament Backs Commission Proposal For The EU Co-Financing Of The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), And The Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB)

Date 13/03/2014

The European Parliament has today backed the European Commission’s proposal on co-financing the IFRS Foundation, EFRAG and the PIOB, three organisations that play a key role in the development of accounting and auditing standards.

Great News For Cyber Security In The EU: The European Parliament Successfully Votes Through The Network & Information Security (NIS) Directive

Date 13/03/2014

Following the successful vote on the NIS directive on cyber security today in Strasbourg, Vice President Neelie Kroes said:

This vote today is very positive news for European citizens, and I would like to thank the Rapporteur, Andreas Schwab, for his hard and efficient work, as well as everyone who has worked on this report.

Investors Rally To Finance New Ghana Commodity Exchange, Future West African Regional Hub

Date 13/03/2014

eleni, a private company positioned as the premier commodity exchange promoter in Africa, has announced today the formation of a private-public investment consortium to finance the establishment of the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX).

R.J. O’Brien & Associates Receives Award From FIA For 100 Years Of Excellence As Firm Begins Centennial Celebration - Video Recalls Industry Firsts And Influence Of O’Brien Family Values At Chicago Firm Heralded As Last Surviving Founding Member Of CME

Date 13/03/2014

R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO), the oldest and largest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, yesterday kicked off its centennial celebration with an award from the FIA in honor of the Chicago-based firm’s “100 years of excellence”. The award was presented to RJO’s Chairman Emeritus Robert J. O’Brien, Sr., who turns 96 next week, and to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gerald F. Corcoran. The presentation took place at a luncheon during the 39th Annual Futures Industry Conference in Boca Raton.