Over the past decade, significant regulatory reforms have been implemented in order to make derivatives markets safer and more robust. A major test of these reforms came in the first half of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global financial markets and central banks intervened to provide much-needed liquidity.
While derivatives experienced volatility and liquidity pressures in line with cash markets, they continued to function without any major issues or dislocations reported by policy-makers or market participants.
The performance of derivatives markets during the pandemic reflects important changes and a significant reduction in counterparty credit risk over the past decade. As a result of the financial regulatory reforms, derivatives markets have become safer, more resilient and more transparent.
Documents (1) for Evolution of OTC Derivatives Markets Since the Financial Crisis
Latest
Steps to a Vibrant Derivatives Market: SOM Remarks
Steps to a Vibrant and Resilient Derivatives Market December 4, 2025 Remarks at the Mediterranean Partnership of Securities Regulators Scott O’Malia ISDA Chief Executive Officer Good afternoon and thank you to the Mediterranean Partnership of Securities Regulators (MPSR) for...
ISDA Response to BoE on Gilt Market Resilience
On November 28, ISDA responded to the Bank of England’s discussion paper on gilt market resilience. ISDA encourages the Bank of England, before introducing any significant policy changes that would affect the functioning of the gilt repo market, to consider...
Addressing Termination Troubles
When Enron announced a shock $618 million loss on October 16, 2001, it took a further 47 days until it filed for bankruptcy. For Bear Stearns, it took 266 days between its bailout of a structured credit fund run by...
ISDA In Review – November 2025
A compendium of links to new documents, research papers, press releases and comment letters published by ISDA in November 2025.