With a matter of months until LIBOR could cease to exist, what is left for the industry to do? Where are the choke points, and what milestones do firms need to meet between now and the end of 2021?

Liquidity is increasing in alternative reference rates, as the derivatives industry shifts away from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates. What trading strategies are proving popular? How are firms managing basis, and what is needed to further bolster liquidity?

A senior industry professional will address the AGM.

How successful has the derivatives market been in promoting diversity and recognizing leaders from minority groups?

A senior regulator will address the AGM.

A to Z of the revised ISDA Definitions

ISDA will shortly complete the 2021 Interest Rate Derivatives Definitions, a wholesale update to the 2006 ISDA Definitions. What will change, how will the modifications be implemented, and what will this mean for derivatives market participants?

Developing China’s Derivatives Markets

Enforceability of close-out netting has long been number one on the wish list for derivatives participants active in China. What progress has been made – and what’s next on the industry’s wish list?

Firms have an overwhelming amount of work to prepare for phases five and six of the initial margin requirements for non-cleared derivatives, including getting their documentation in place and establishing custodial relationships. But broader issues also need to be addressed, including the margin calculation and call process, collateral eligibility and optimization, and dispute resolution. How are firms progressing with their preparations for phase five of the margin rules, and how are regulatory requirements driving operational efficiencies and use of digital negotiation tools?

The coronavirus pandemic and the shift to remote working has highlighted challenges associated with the existing infrastructure and the reliance on paper documents. Market participants are increasingly looking to technology to provide the answer. According to a recent ISDA survey, 96.6% of respondents said they supported an ISDA objective to develop standards and digital formats for documentation and other services in order to support automation. What steps have been taken, and what else needs to happen to further digitize the derivatives market?

ISDA CEO Scott O’Malia talks to a senior industry leader about the challenges and opportunities in financial markets.

Taking Action on Collateral Management Transformation

There is significant scope to transform the collateral management process through operational improvements, data standardization and automation. This panel will set out the steps firms can take to realize those improvements, and explore how standards (Common Domain Model) and digital tools (like ISDA Create) can help produce efficiencies.

CCPs Under Stress: COVID, Auctions and Recovery & Resolution

CCPs passed a stress test in 2020 during the COVID crisis. What did coronavirus tell us about central counterparty risk management frameworks? Are changes necessary? On the regulatory front, where is the discussion on auctions and recovery and resolution?

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are increasing in importance for investors and policy-makers. How are derivatives markets adapting to sustainable finance and ESG?

Governments, central banks and regulators took decisive and critical action in response to the economic and financial turmoil caused by the coronavirus outbreak in March and April 2020. What have regulators and policy-makers learned from that period? To what extent did the post-crisis financial reforms help ensure resiliency of banks and the financial system as a whole? Are further policy responses necessary?

A senior regulator will address the AGM.

Having been given an additional year to prepare for the final Basel standards because of the coronavirus outbreak, the US, EU and others are working to finalize national rules. What approach will legislators and regulators take in order to balance financial stability and economic development, and to what extent will local rules be consistent with the final Basel framework? What impact will the rules have on banks in those jurisdictions?

Financial institutions are searching for ways to overcome squeezed margins by improving efficiency and reducing costs. Greater alignment and standardization between derivatives and securities financing transaction markets could help achieve that – but what would this entail?

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