2018 Benchmark Fallbacks Consultation

This consultation sought input on the approach for addressing certain technical issues associated with adjustments that will apply to alternative risk-free rates (RFRs) if the fallbacks are triggered. These adjustments are necessary because of the differences between the interbank offered rates and the RFRs.

The consultation is available here. A set of graphs provided by Bloomberg to illustrate certain of the options for adjustments under consideration in the consultation is available here.

ISDA accepted consultation responses from market participants until October 22, 2018.

A webinar describing the approaches under consideration in the consultation and explaining the background of ISDA’s work to implement fallbacks for derivatives referencing key IBORs is available here. This webinar also describes the graphs provided by Bloomberg.

ISDA is also maintaining a list of FAQs (updated September 17, 2018). A second webinar covering many of the FAQs is available here. You can continue to submit questions to FallbackConsult@isda.org at any time during the consultation period.

ISDA Omnibus Canadian Representation Letter

On September 2, ISDA published the Omnibus Canadian Representation Letter, which combines previously published representation letters drafted to assist firms in compliance with Canadian trade reporting, business conduct, regulatory margin and clearing classification rules. The Omnibus Canadian Letter is designed...

Joint Response on Cross-margining

On August 31, ISDA and FIA submitted a letter to the US Commodity Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the agencies’ joint request for comment on the implementation of portfolio margining and cross-margining...

Response to SEC on FICC Guaranty Fund

On September 1, ISDA and FIA submitted a joint response to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), supporting the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation’s (FICC) proposal to establish a dedicated guaranty fund at its government securities division (GSD). FICC had...