ISDA Letter on Reform of UK EMIR

On December 22, 2022, ISDA CEO Scott O’Malia sent a letter and accompanying note to HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England with recommendations to reform the UK European Market Infrastructure Regulation intragroup transaction exemption and the equity options exemption for variation margin and initial margin.

ISDA proposes that there should be permanent intragroup exemptions from margin and clearing requirements for over-the-counter derivatives between UK and non-UK group companies, which do not depend on equivalence determinations in respect of non-UK countries. The note presents a set of reforms that would give the industry clarity and would remove a cliff edge for some firms at the end of 2023. The letter also urges UK authorities to permanently exempt single-stock options and equity index options from margin requirements, and to communicate plans early to firms that otherwise face an uncertain implementation period.

Response to FCA on CFI Codes for Transparency

On March 19, ISDA responded to Chapter 3 of the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Quarterly Consultation CP26/8 on transparency requirements for financial instruments under Market Conduct Sourcebook (MAR) 11. Sections 3.11-3.13 of the consultation paper explain a discrepancy between...

Why We Need Safe and Efficient SFT Markets

Securities financing transactions (SFTs) play a vital role in fostering liquidity, mobilizing collateral and supporting the smooth functioning of derivatives markets. But during periods of stress, secured funding markets often come under pressure just when they’re needed most, with reduced...

Response to BoE on Clearing Exemption for PTRR

On March 11, ISDA submitted a response to the Bank of England’s consultation on a proposed approach to exempting post-trade risk reduction (PTRR) transactions from the derivatives clearing obligation under Article 4 of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). ISDA...

IQ Interview with David Bailey

The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority recently finalized its Basel 3.1 framework for implementation at the start of 2027. David Bailey, executive director for prudential policy, talks to IQ about the importance of global consistency and the need to...