Credit Derivatives : International Developments and Lessons for India

Credit derivatives have been popular instruments for hedging of credit risks by banks and financial institutions. The notional value outstanding of credit default swap contracts, a type of credit derivative most in use, increased from US$6.4 trillion in December 2004 to US$57.89 trillion in December, 2007. However, this instrument, which was once 'apple of the eye' of market players, lost its sheen in the wake of the sub-prime crisis when it was perceived to have played a major role in igniting the crisis and spreading it across the global financial system. This article presents how this came about and the after thought of the regulators of developed countries in regulating these instruments. It then looks at what lessons India can draw from the experience of the Western nations before considering introduction of credit derivatives in the Indian markets