ISDA/AFME Briefing Note on SA-CCR

The Standardised Approach for Counterparty Credit Risk (SA-CCR), a methodology to calculate the capital required to address the risk that the counterparty to a derivative contract will not live up to its contractual obligations, is a replacement for two existing ‘simple’ and outdated non-modelled exposure methods – the current exposure method (CEM) and the standardized method (SM).

 While SA-CCR is intended to address some of the long-standing criticisms of the CEM and SM approaches, it still has several shortcomings, including its calibration and lack of recognition of margining and netting, which result in significantly overstated exposures. This could severely impact the availability and pricing of hedging products for end users.

 Moreover, the full impact resulting from the implementation of SA-CCR remains untested. It is therefore imperative that the shortcomings of SA-CCR be remedied, as well as a full impact study on its calibration and its aggregate impact performed before it is implemented through the European Union’s Capital Requirements Regulation.

 

ISDA Publishes SPS Matrix Version 1.02

On December 19, 2025, ISDA published an updated version (v1.02) of the ISDA Digital Asset Derivative Definitions Settlement Price Source Matrix (‘SPS Matrix”). The SPS Matrix contains a list of Settlement Price Sources (SPSs) and related terms that parties can...

From Milestone to Modernization

We’re coming to the end of an exceptionally busy year at ISDA, in which we celebrated our 40th anniversary and doubled down on our enduring commitment to safe and efficient derivatives markets. Reflecting on ISDA’s achievements since 1985, it’s clear...