Sapient Launches Standard for OTC Derivatives
Sapient Global Markets (SGM) said that it has developed a new industry standard for cleared over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives related activity reporting for asset managers, futures commission merchants (FCMs) and custodians.
The clearing connectivity standard (CCS) is a standardised connectivity format that can be used by the FCM community to transmit OTC clearing related information on behalf of their asset manager clients to custodians.
SGM added that as industry regulatory reform emerges, both the volume of cleared derivative trades and the number of relationships between market participants is growing. The absence of a formal standard for formatting or transmitting data between entities can create delayed onboarding and increased operational risk as well as cost of interface development and maintenance with each custodian.
The group said that it has collaborated with most of the leading FCMs and custodians to develop the CCS, which has been adopted by the original project group of participants representing more than 12 firms and hundreds of end users in the buy-side community. Overcoming the challenges faced by reading, interpreting and managing files sent in different file formats, the CCS will simplify integration with data systems and automate reconciliation in order to make clearing and communications more concise and efficient.
The CCS provides standardised connectivity and reporting initially for central counterparty-eligible interest rate and credit default swap (CDS) products in the US through LCH.Clearnet’s SwapClear and the CME Group, and SGM said that there are plans to expand to include additional products, participants, and geographies over the next year and beyond.
Working with project sponsors from across the industry, SGM facilitated the definition of the common data format and file definitions for account balances, margins and fees, settlements, positions and daily activity. The standard has been discussed and well received by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), as well as some of its working group members.
Future enhancements to the CCS will include a conversion of the standard to financial products markup language (FpML) on a real-time basis under the guidance of FpML working groups and additional product coverage. The intent is to also broaden the range of participants to include additional FCMs, custodians, asset managers and CCPs. Discussions are continuing with ISDA on ongoing governance and oversight of the clearing and communication standard.