China derivatives

The market needs netting

February 01, 2008


Derivatives in China need several reforms if they are to work, including a safe harbour for close-out netting and better definitions

Derivatives need a safe harbour if they face the storm of bankruptcy

Since its inception, China's derivatives market has experienced tremendous growth. In the first six months of 2007 the aggregate notional amount of Renminbi-denominated interest rate swaps closed was Rmb100.6 billion. The aggregate notional amount of currency swaps closed in the first six months of 2007 was $133.4 billion.

This growth and the increasingly global financial market have heightened the necessity for a solid legal and regulatory infrastructure for China's derivatives market. China has made impressive progress in developing its market, but fundamental issues still remain. Specifically, Chinese bankruptcy law needs to address the close-out netting issue. Collateral title transfer arrangements should be given a more solid legal status. And market participants should have a single master agreement to achieve uniformity and efficiency.

The regulatory agencies have set up various rules. On February 4 2004, the China...




Related articles

It’s not as simple as waving a cheque for HK$1 million and saying: ‘I want some shares’

Teresa Ma, of Linklaters, on retail investor restrictions for Rusal's listing

Web seminars

US and EU hybrid capital
February 3 2010
The future of hybrids, in a popular discussion between IFLR, Morrison & Foerster and Calyon

Latest Issue

March 2010

Basel III: The revenge of Basel
New Basel rules are affecting everyone differently. In the UK banks are worried about grandfathering, in Germany the headache is hybrids and in the US it's risk structures. Meanwhile Japan has some tips and Hong Kong structured its first hybrid [more]