Updated
Updated · Markets Media · Jul 6
OSTTRA Wins CFTC Relief for 3 Post-Trade Risk Services, Expanding US Derivatives Exemptions
Updated
Updated · Markets Media · Jul 6

OSTTRA Wins CFTC Relief for 3 Post-Trade Risk Services, Expanding US Derivatives Exemptions

1 articles · Updated · Markets Media · Jul 6

Summary

  • A CFTC no-action letter lets OSTTRA and two peers offer broader post-trade risk reduction services in the US, extending relief beyond compression to counterparty risk rebalancing and basis risk reduction.
  • The exemptions cover trading, clearing and reporting rules that had made non-price-forming risk-reduction trades cumbersome, especially for smaller US firms and regional banks.
  • OSTTRA said the relief already enabled its first digitally facilitated rebalancing run involving US and non-US clients, and also broadens off-venue execution for certain credit default swap index rebalancing.
  • The move brings the US closer to EU and UK treatment of these services, which OSTTRA says should improve capital efficiency, automation, liquidity and overall derivatives-market stability.

Insights

As US and EU regulations align, is global financial technology truly ready for a seamless, 24/7 derivatives market?
With risk management barriers lowered, can smaller US banks now genuinely compete against their much larger global rivals?
As new risk-reduction tools go mainstream, are we creating new systemic threats for the global financial system?