After the market turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April 2020, the ISDA Clearing Member Committee analyzed how central counterparty (CCP) risk management frameworks reacted to the crisis, based on feedback from CCPs.
The results show CCPs dealt with the crisis well, managing record volumes while most of their staff worked from home. In total, there were three member defaults or close-outs, none of which threatened financial stability. This reflects a more stable financial system overall: clearing members are much better capitalized and hold more liquidity compared to the last crisis.
However, some issues did emerge. Procyclical initial margin requirements exacerbated market stress at certain points. Clearing members also lacked timely information about backtesting breaches and procyclicality in margin models. The paper makes recommendations to address both of those points.
Documents (1) for COVID-19 and CCP Risk Management Frameworks
Latest
ISDA In Review – October 2026
A compendium of links to new documents, research papers, press releases and comment letters published by ISDA in October 2026.
ISDA Recommendations on EMIR under MISP
On November 2, ISDA published its recommendations on the European Parliament compromise amendments to the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) under the Market Integration and Supervision Package (MISP). The briefing covers five areas: transaction reporting (Article 9), non-financial counterparties (Article...
Response on UK MIFIR Reporting Guidelines
On November 6, ISDA responded to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) consultation CP26/34 ‘Preparing for the new transaction reporting regime’ on the upcoming changes to the UK Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MIFIR) transaction reporting regime, as set out in...
Response on Transaction Reporting and Transparency
On October 30, ISDA submitted comments on the European Parliament’s (EP) proposed transaction reporting and transparency-related amendments to the European Commission’s Market Integration and Supervision Package (MISP). On transaction reporting, ISDA commends the EP’s ambition but cautions against trying to...