Response to the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Position Paper
Highlights
GAO discussed the International Swaps and Derivatives Association's (ISDA) response to its recent report on financial derivatives. GAO noted that: (1) ISDA believes that the report contains valuable information and useful suggestions, but some recommendations are not supported by facts and would unduly increase costs and reduce the availability of financial derivatives; (2) it does not believe the recommendations will reduce the availability of these products; (3) ISDA disagrees with the report's conclusions and recommendations concerning significant dealer concentration, market linkages that could cause financial disruptions, systemic crises caused by derivatives, the need for further regulation, separate disclosure, oversight of derivatives, end-user accountability, capital requirements, financial regulators' annual examinations of dealers' risk management systems, and harmonization with foreign regulators; and (4) the recommendations will provide federal regulators with early warning information and the regulatory authority necessary to anticipate and respond to financial crises.