Credit Event Futures
The Chicago Mercantile Exghange [CME] has applied to trade Credit Event Futures , futures on credit default swaps [CDS] on individual companies.
CME Credit Event Futures are intended to provide a transparent, liquid and facile means of acquiring protection against the risk of a bankruptcy, default, non-payment, debt restructuring or other credit events. As such, CME intends to extend the benefits of exchange-traded product to the credit derivatives industry which heretofore has only been available on an over-the-counter (OTC) basis.
They are designed to dovetail with current futures accounting practices, i.e., they require an initial performance bond deposit and are subsequently marked-to-market (MTM) on a daily basis.
As the expiration date of a CME Credit Event Futures contract draws near, the entire value of the protection will have been paid from long to short through the MTM [mark-to-market] process. If a
Credit Event occurs prior to the expiration date, the Credit Event Futures contract will terminate
and the short position is marked-to-market at a fixed amount as defined by the Exchange.
Thus, CME Credit Event Futures merge the benefits of OTC credit default swaps with the
benefits of trading futures. Specifically, CME Credit Event Futures are cleared and guaranteed
by the CME Clearing House. This may result in capital efficiencies for institutions that may
cross-margin CME Credit Event Futures against other CME Credit Event Futures … or against
other interest rate futures cleared by CME.
more at CFTC
White paper : Credit Event Futures [ at the CME a.k.a The Merc ]
Contract specifications here