ISDA announced that Bloomberg Index Services Limited (BISL) has been selected to calculate and publish adjustments related to fallbacks that ISDA intends to implement for certain interest rate benchmarks in its 2006 ISDA Definitions.
https://twitter.com/ISDA/status/1156568120745742336
Bloomberg was chosen following an in-depth selection process, which began with a public invitation to tender published in February. The selection process was run by ISDA and included input from a selection committee with representation from buy- and sell-side market participants.
The adjustments reflect the fact that interbank offered rates (IBORs) are available in multiple tenors, while the risk-free rates (RFRs) identified as fallbacks are overnight rates. The IBORs also incorporate a bank credit risk premium and a variety of other factors, while RFRs do not. A third-party service provider was sought to ensure the adjustments are calculated in a fair and independent manner, based on the methodology chosen following various industry consultations.
The adjustments are expected to be published after the methodologies are finalized and before the new fallbacks apply to ISDA’s amended definitions. ISDA currently expects the fallbacks to take effect in early 2020. Additional information about ISDA’s fallback work is available on the ISDA website.
The calculation will be managed by BISL, which is awaiting authorization from the UK Financial Conduct Authority to become a benchmark administrator under the EU Benchmarks Regulation. Further details will be available before the adjustments are published.
Source: ISDA
IOSCO issues Statement on Benchmarks Transition
https://twitter.com/IOSCOPress/status/1156617407068327937
The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published the Statement on Communication and Outreach to Inform Relevant Stakeholders Regarding Benchmarks Transition. The Statement seeks to inform relevant market participants of how an early transition to Risk Free Rates (RFRs) can mitigate potential risks arising from the expected cessation of LIBOR.
IOSCO wishes to raise awareness of the impact of LIBOR’s likely cessation and the need for relevant stakeholders to transition from the widely used USD LIBOR to RFRs – particularly to the new US Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). Raising awareness is important to facilitate prudent risk management across corporate and financial institutions and mitigate potential financial stability and conduct risks.
This Statement is important for all market participants that have significant exposure to the USD LIBOR benchmark through, for example, the trading of financial instruments and other arrangements that reference this benchmark directly. It is also relevant to participants that reference another rate which, in turn, uses USD LIBOR as an input for its calculation.
Source: IOSCO
