John Lothian's Daily Futures & Securities Industry Newsletter

 

March 19, 2002

 

Lead Stories

 

Feinstein rejects changes to energy derivatives bill (Reuters Securities)
...The proposed legislation would give the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
regulatory oversight of all energy and metals derivatives to better track...... market is traded
privately among companies and other institutional investors, not on regulated exchanges such as
the New York Mercantile Exchange....

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/n18685955_1.html

 

US high court considers SEC appeal in broker case (Reuters Securities)
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday on the scope of the Securities and Exchange Commission's power to sue a
stockbroker whom the SEC contends enriched himself at his clients' expense.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/n18153126_1.html

 

After Enron: "Nothing Can Be Off the Table" (BusinessWeek Online)
President George Bush is counting on Pitt and the SEC to clean up the mess and restore confidence in Corporate America's financial
dealings. Pitt certainly knows a lot about the outfits he keeps a watch on. Early in his career, he spent a decade at the SEC and then
practiced law at Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, where he represented a slew of financial and corporate powerhouses, including
all of the Big Five accounting firms. But some Democrats and investor groups question whether Pitt's background makes him the right
choice to lead an ethics crusade.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/bw/20020318/bs_bw/after_enron___nothing_can_be_off_the_table_

 

Euronext fuses equities, eyes derivatives big bang

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020319/l14125043_1.html

 

EU securities regulation must not drive business out of Europe, says the FSA [ 19/3/2002 ]

Speaking to the British Chamber of Commerce in Brussels today, FSA Chairman Howard Davies said: “The conclusions of the Barcelona Summit have g...

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/press/2002/029.html

 

Crude Breaks $25 a Barrel (AP)
Crude oil futures climbed above $25 a barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange for the first
time since Sept. 11, as traders priced in expectations of tighter supplies later this year.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020318/ap_on_bi_ge/commodities_73

 

***** This headline writer needs some help. 

 

Appeals Court Rejects Martin Armstrong (Associated Press)
..." Jim Newsome, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, said
he hoped that the appeals ruling "will persuade Mr.......Armstrong is awaiting trial on fraud charges
brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission and the U.S. attorney's office....

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/020318/armstrong_appeal_3.html

 

B2B Transactions Lead E-Commerce

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020318/ap_on_hi_te/e_commerce_2

 

BALTIC EXCHANGE POISED TO LAUNCH ON-LINE DERIVATIVES TRADING - 18/03/2002

http://www.commodities-now.com/news/pr_exchanges/pr_20020318a.shtml

 

Leading Electronic Bond Trading Platform Acquires Industry Standard in Fixed Income Analytics (PR Newswire)
... Securities Calculations Methods'' books published by the Securities Industry Association (SIA), founded TIPS in 1986...

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020319/nytu103_1.html

 

German broker Consors posts deep 2001 loss (Reuters Securities)
Stricken German online brokerage Consors posted a steep 2001 full-year loss on Monday after a dismal year for the sector with retail
clients shunning share trading amid weak capital markets.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/l18451180_1.html


Goldman profit falls on banking decline (Reuters Securities)
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., one of the top U.S. investment banks, on Tuesday said its quarterly profit fell 32 percent, as flagging stock
markets kept merger and underwriting activity on the wane and gains from trading securities dropped.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020319/n19139342_10.html

 

Exchange News

 

ONECHICAGO APPOINTS CHRISTOPHER E. KROHN AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND MARKETING

 

CHICAGO, March 19, 2002 — OneChicago LLC today announced the appointment of Christopher E. Krohn as Managing Director of Strategy and Marketing.  Krohn joins OneChicago from Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (CME), the largest U.S. futures exchange, where he served as Director of Marketing.

“We are very pleased to bring Chris on board from CME,” said William J. Rainer, Chairman and CEO of OneChicago.  “His experience marketing equity futures products to a broad range of customer segments will be a valuable asset as we develop and promote our market offerings.”

 

“The opportunity for security futures in U.S. capital markets is impressive,” said Krohn.  “With a comprehensive product line, innovative market model and

global distribution network, OneChicago is well-positioned to capitalize on that opportunity.”

 

Prior to his tenure with CME, Krohn was a consultant with Bain & Company, Inc., helping financial services firms and other clients realize bottom-line results through work in Corporate Strategy, M&A, and Sales and Marketing.  He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Chicago, where he serves as a guest lecturer on various marketing topics.

 

OneChicago LLC is the joint venture created to trade single stock futures and narrow-based indices by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (CME), Chicago Board Options Exchange® (CBOE®) and Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT®).

 

****** Good guys should get special treatment.  Congratulations Chris!

 

CBOT Fed Watch - 03.18.2002
Based upon the March 18th market close in the April 2002 expiration, the CBOT 30-Day Federal Funds futures contract is currently pricing in an 12 percent probability that the FOMC will raise the federal funds target rate by at least 25 basis points.

http://www.cbot.com/cbot/www/cont_detail/0,1493,10+24+null+6222,00.html

 

CME Appoints Mark Blundell Managing Director of European Office   (03/18/02)
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (CME) has named Mark Blundell as Managing Director, CME Europe, based in London. The appointment is effective immediately.

http://www.cme.com/news/shownews.cfm?NewsItem=00018211-071F-1C96-9A3280EDBEFB071D

 

TSE considering publicising monthly short-selling (Reuters Securities)
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan's largest bourse, said on Tuesday it is considering publicising the amount of short-selling of equities
on a monthly basis, in an effort to boost investor confidence and improve transparency.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/t71651_1.html

 

Regulatory News

 

California Commodity Trader Charged with Misappropriating more than $500,000 in Customer Funds and Violating Prior Commission Order

http://www.cftc.gov/opa/enf02/opa4619-02.htm

 

The SEC News Digest

http://www.sec.gov/news/digest/03-18.txt

 

Edward Thomas Jung and E. Thomas Jung Partners, Ltd., also d/b/a ETJ Partners, Ltd.

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr17417.htm

 

Gary L. Moody, Steven R. Moody, Virtual Private Marketplace, Ltd., and Billpay Systems LLC

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr17416.htm

 

TSE/CDNX CEO Calls on Government Action for Regulatory Issue -- March 18, 2002

http://tse.com/news/news_rel/news_659.html

 

SEC Issues Rules Targeted to Andersen Client (Dow Jones)
...In a statement, SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt said the SEC's actions should address questions raised by Andersen's indictment,...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/dowjones/20020319/bs_dowjones/sec_issues_rules_targeted_to_andersen_client

 

SEC sues Boston man for touting false Verizon deal (Reuters Securities)
...According to the SEC complaint, Mallory told prospective shareholders they could buy Anamar stock for 5 cents and...

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/n18144284_1.html

 

The Financial Services Authority – who we are, what we do and how we do it  [ 18/3/2002 ]

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/public/

 

Erivativesreview.com

erivativesreview.com takes an in depth strategic look at key issues affecting the markets, written by professionals for professionals.

 

March 2002

 

EDITORIAL - The Price Is Right? (Or Very, Very Wrong Indeed!)

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=9F2D7E7D-94CC-49DE-A1AABB68AEF834DC&SectionID=1A6E55F2-A897-46D0-AD59F3D581D7E914&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

THE KISS TRADERS' GUIDE - Part 13: When And Where Not To Trade

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=96B00E66-8D7D-43C3-95248A00AC1CACD5&SectionID=C4054334-9D02-46AF-9F7E3BD23D6BCAC5&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

FOCUS

Taking The Corporate Risk Out Of Power Trading

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=D020FE9C-DBF6-4473-B4E1FFDA278451A6&SectionID=AFEF68A2-7029-4E84-9A4A7476EC6972A2&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

Online Forex

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=513F8C48-C8C4-44A3-8F0448B32AA0721A&SectionID=AFEF68A2-7029-4E84-9A4A7476EC6972A2&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

BOOK REVIEW

The Exchange Traded Funds Manual

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=BEEEB959-87B1-40EB-B2F28348EBD04E82&SectionID=A90CB95D-7B49-466F-A3BF17274500B292&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

Bestsellers

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=91AEE237-9A42-498C-9D4331B8DF4FFB0E&SectionID=A90CB95D-7B49-466F-A3BF17274500B292&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

EXCHANGE AND B2B NEWS - New exchanges, new contracts, new hires

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=BF033200-109A-4EF9-9015D5AC2CF670D5&SectionID=17A4FD3F-0F78-43DB-93DF3E8F13887204&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

BITS AND PIECES - Profits up, new hires and takeovers

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=81F29437-2376-4F2F-B1662D2F796C6C9A&SectionID=B3384D40-7E9E-429C-9F22FF8F77AAC968&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

THE BACK PAGE - Banana Skins 2002

http://www.erivativesreview.com/content/content.cfm?ID=A15FC732-A33F-40EF-8D925B5C544152C3&SectionID=02843846-C6E1-4CC7-82A816E02729B4BF&IssueID=F47860D4-5410-42E5-87B3670A833F669C

 

Reports

 

Bond Talk Today's Events

http://www.bondtalk.com/global.cfm?S=todaysevents

 

Miscellaneous News

 

Mercator Chosen by Britannic Asset Management for Straight Through Processing (Business Wire)
Mercator(R) Software, Inc., has been selected by the UK fund management company Britannic Asset Management to implement a
phased straight through processing project to automate its securities and fixed income trading and settlement processes.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020319/192215_1.html

 

Morgan Stanley Launches New Stock Rating System; Discloses Ratings Distribution

http://www.morganstanley.com/about/pressroom/news207.html?page=press

 

MERRILL LYNCH NAMED CORPORATE BROKER OF THE YEAR

http://www.ml.com/about/press_release/03182002-1_ml_named_pr.htm

 

Archer Daniels shares fall after Calif. MTBE delay (Reuters Securities)
Shares of agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. fell more than 7 percent on Monday after the state of California delayed
eliminating a fuel additive that competes with ADM's ethanol.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/n18357444_1.html

 

Archipelago, Redibook Complete Deal (AP)
...Alternative trading platforms, known as ECNs, have gained market share in recent years, helped by their efficiency and cost....

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020319/ap_on_bi_ge/archipelago_redibook_1

 

Two Industry Visionaries to Deliver Keynote Addresses at Meridien Research's Summit Conference 'Navigating Financial Services IT'
on May 20-21, 2002 (Business Wire)

... summit conference presents a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into the strategic technologies and directions throughout
the financial services business....... three tracks focusing on: trends in customer relationship management; risk management and trading
systems; and innovations in electronic financial services...

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020319/192278_1.html

 

Hedging Your Stock Bets (Business Week)
...Personal Investing: INVESTING Q&A Hedging is a smart strategy to manage the risk in an investment portfolio,......That's the
advice of Patrick Adams, CEO of Choice Investment Management, whose Long-Short Fund gives mutual-fund investors the
advantages of a hedge fund....... is down somewhat but is still ranked sixth in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth category of funds.......We
believe that there has been a lot of funding of biotech companies that will not make it....

http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/020319/uqzubpx7rfqjmz2k5ybybq_9.html

 

CalPERS beefs up financial market reform plan (Reuters Securities)
... collapse of Enron Corp. The investment committee of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, whose
moves are closely-watched in financial markets,......" said CalPERS spokeswoman Pat Macht....

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020318/n18190843_2.html


Is Online Self-Service Really Service? (NewsFactor)
... online self-service applications in recent years have been focused on the business-to-business (B2B) sector, but the number of
self-service apps for consumers is steadily rising...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20020318/bs_nf/16807

 

03/18 07:04 Man Group PLC EMG Holding in Company

http://quote.bloomberg.com/fgcgi.cgi?T=quote/uk/uk_quote_long_news.ht&s=APJXXtQ2UTWFuIEdy

 

 

Other Voices

 

More endorsements for Paul Richards in his campaign for the CBOT Nominating Committee:

 

Paul Richards will be very helpful on Nominating getting CBT directors

nominated who can work well with CBOE.

 

Bill Power

 ----------------

Paul-

 

I would like to add my own endorsement to your candidacy for CBOT

Nominating Committee as well as C.C. Odom's run for the Board. My

personal dealings with both of you gentlemen has shown you to be not

only highly intelligent, but also to have the best interests of both the

CBOT and the CBOE as your driving motivations. Good luck to both of you

in this endeavor.

 

Respectfully,

Mike Mondrus

 -----------------

Fellow Seat Owners:

 

I know that I am a late comer to this bandwagon, but I must add my voice

to those of Nick Neubauer, Larry Blum, Mike Mondrus and all the others

that have championed the candidacies of C.C. Odom for the CBOT Board of

Directors and Paul Richards for the CBOT Nominating Committee.

 

Unlike the others e coming forward for these two candidates, I have

never met either of them. My only experience with C.C or Paul has been

what I have learned about them through our dealings on the phone and

what I have learned through their contributions to the putsNcalls and

Tradetalk listservs. On both counts the experience has been Grade A.

 

As many of you know, I am a partner on a CBOT seat, so I feel I have a

personal obligation to express my preference for various candidates. I

am convinced of the wisdom, sincerity, dedication and depth of Exchange

knowledge that each of these gentlemen brings to their respective

offices. I strongly urge each and every CBOT voter of record for the up

coming election, to cast their ballots for C.C. Odom for CBOT Board of

Directors and Paul Richards for the Nominating Committee.

 

I have often stated that both of our Exchanges are joined at the hip.

The people we are electing to these important jobs have all of our

futures in their hands. I for one want to support people dedicated to

the growing of our business. LONG LIVE THE PETITION PROCESS!

 

Don Phillips

 ----------------

Fellow CBOT Members

 

Please take the time to review the attached.  I have known Paul

personally for some time and have served with him on various exchange

committees. I have not always agreed with Paul on everything, however, I have always

been impressed with his preparation and care for the welfare of the exchange

and its members-particularly those who make their livings on the floor and

in the pits.  Paul is an open outcry guy and will work hard for you.  Also,

in the few instances when Paul and I have not agreed on an issue, I have

always felt he gives other opinions a fair hearing and tries to do the right

thing.

 

The word that describes how I feel about him is "respect."  Do the right

thing yourself and vote for Paul.  He will watch out for us.

 

peace, Thomas F. Cashman

 

p.s.  Check out Trade Talk for some examples of Paul's tireless work in

the realm of ideas and you'll see what I have based my opinion on.

 

John's Comments

 

Here are the O-Fund baskets I promised yesterday.  These should have been in Friday's newsletter, but they were posted to the Omega List on Thursday night.  Trader O is the exception.  I received Trader O's Tuesday before I left, so you are going to have to trust me on this one.

 

The O-Funds are an exercise to compare the results generated by the X-Funds of the CBOT to other potential managers selections.  The key difference is that the O-Funds have included contracts from all the U.S. exchanges that the X-Funds say they can include in their baskets, but don't.

 

Here are the selections which should have been in Friday's letter:

 

Barry Viljoen

Short June Emini S&P

Short May Copper

Long June Gold

Long June Ten-Year Notes

 

Bill Wynne

Long May Corn

Long June Bonds

Long June S&P

Long June Nasdaq

 

Mark Brown

Long June S&P

Long June Nasdaq

Long June Dow Jones

Short June US Bonds

 

Bob Heisler

Long May Crude

Long May Cotton

Long May Sugar

Short May Silver

 

TraderO

S June Dow Futures

L June Crude Oil

S Nov Soybeans

L June Ten Years

 

John Lothian (Randomly selected positions from a business card box)

Short May Copper

Long May Crude Oil

Long June Five Year Notes

Long June Live Cattle

 

These O-Funds start as of the closing prices as of March 14 and will settle versus the March 28 closing prices.

 

Tomorrow I will update the O-Funds values as of the end of the last round and the current new baskets.

 

Regards,

 

John J. Lothian

 

The Price Futures Group, Inc.

Electronic Trading Division

Chicago Board of Trade Building

141 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1340A

Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: 1-800-713-0215 or 312-648-2426

Fax: 312-902-6437

Web site: www.pricegroupetd.com

E-Mail: JLothian@pricegroup.com

 

Disclaimer: This letter is strictly the opinion of its writer, and not necessarily those of The Price Group and its management, and is
intended solely for informative purposes and is not to be construed, under any circumstances, by implication or otherwise, as an
offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or trade in any commodities or securities herein named. Information is obtained from sources
believed to be reliable, but is in no way  guaranteed.  No guarantee of any kind is implied or possible where projections of future
conditions are attempted.

 

Futures and options trading involves risk.  Past results are no indication of future performance.

 

Hypothetical Results Disclosure:

 

Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below.  No representations are being made that nay account will or is
likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown.  In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results
subsequently achieved by any particular trading program.  One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit
of hindsight.  In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in
actual trading.  For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can adversely
affect actual trading results.  There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot
be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results.