The International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) today commented on the calls by the G20 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ March 14 Communique to restore global growth, support lending and to strengthen the global financial system.
"ISDA supports the calls of the G20 policymakers for strengthening of the financial system,” said Robert Pickel, executive director and chief executive officer, ISDA. “ISDA and its membership are fully engaged in efforts to enhance standardization and resilience in the framework for privately negotiated derivatives, including the launch just last week of its project to standardize key elements of standard form CDS documentation. ISDA is committed to continuing to work with regulatory supervisors and market participants on a global basis to strengthen and enhance the CDS business, which is a critical engine for restoring growth and lending.”
ISDA’s and the industry’s efforts in this regard were commended in the Senior Supervisors Group recent report, Observations on Management of Recent Credit Default Swap Credit Events. The full report is available at http://www.ny.frb.org/newsevents/news/markets/2009/SSG_030909.pdf.
ISDA also continues to play a role in helping to develop an appropriate and resilient regulatory framework for global financial activity. On March 10, in testimony before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Mr Pickel emphasized the beneficial role CDS play in the global economy and described the robust infrastructure that ISDA and industry participants have developed to support the CDS business.
The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met on March 14 to prepare for the Leaders’ London Summit on April 2. In their final statement, the G20 financial policymakers agreed on further action to restore global growth and support lending and on reforms to strengthen the global financial system.
