Can the Credit Default Swap Market Be Salvaged? Issues for Borrowers and Investors

12 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2015 Last revised: 16 Feb 2016

See all articles by Richard Christopher Whalen

Richard Christopher Whalen

Whalen Global Advisors LLC; Mortgage Bankers Association; National Mortgage News; FINRA

Joe Scott

Kroll Bond Rating Agency

Date Written: November 24, 2015

Abstract

Trading volumes in credit default swaps (CDS) have fallen by more than 75% since the 2008 financial crisis to less than $9 trillion notional amount outstanding as of June 2015. This dramatic decline in volumes comes, in part, because of new laws and regulations focused on reducing the risk of these over-the counter (OTC) derivatives products. Despite significant changes in the regulation of these products, there remain a number of defects in the market structure of OTC credit derivatives, flaws which arguably intensified the impact of the 2008 financial crisis and disadvantage both borrowers and investors. These defects in market structure limit competition, make it difficult for investors to understand the risks taken by large universal banks, create the potential for the manipulation of borrower credit spreads, and even affect the recognition of when default events occur under CDS contracts.

Keywords: Credit Default Swaps, Fraud, Market Structure, Credit Spreads, Regulation, Federal Reserve Board, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Conflict of Interest, Bankruptcy, Receivership

JEL Classification: D4, D42, D43, E44, G1, G21, G18, K23, L1, L12, L13, L41, N2

Suggested Citation

Whalen, Richard Christopher and Scott, Joe, Can the Credit Default Swap Market Be Salvaged? Issues for Borrowers and Investors (November 24, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2702413 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2702413

Richard Christopher Whalen (Contact Author)

Whalen Global Advisors LLC ( email )

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Joe Scott

Kroll Bond Rating Agency ( email )

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