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.

ISDA Paper on FRTB Rules in Brazil

On March 24, ISDA submitted a paper to Banco Central do Brazil’s (BCB) on its implementation of the revised market risk framework under the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB), which represents an important step toward strengthening prudential standards...

IQ Interview with Mark Uyeda

Mandatory clearing of US Treasury securities is due to begin at the end of this year under rules finalized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2023. SEC commissioner Mark Uyeda talks to IQ about the benefits of clearing...

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...