CDS report: âThe size of the trades suggests itâs not speculationâ
The cost of protecting European corporate debt jumped sharply higher on Friday as the market again buzzed with talk that structured products were being unwound.
People in the market said a bank had bought large amounts of protection in late morning, consistent with the liquidation of a structured product or the sudden hedging of a large amount of risk.
âThe size of the trades suggests itâs not speculation,â said Mehernosh Engineer at BNP Paribas. While sudden unwinds have been expected by the market, news that they may now be going ahead nonetheless set nerves further on edge.