From WSJ:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/cme-group-confirms-efforts-to-formulate-new-silver-fix-1401375103
Two of the world's leading commodities exchanges are competing to fix London's
silver fix.
The London Metal Exchange and CME Group each said Thursday they
are separately talking with market participants about hosting a new
pricing benchmark after the 117-year-old London
silver fix is set for the last time on Aug. 14.
While the LME's proposal is relatively advanced, CME Group is
only in the early stages of considering a new silver fix, people with
knowledge of the matter said. Both exchanges are considering benchmarks
that are based on actual trades of the metal, as is the case with the
current system.
"We are working closely with the precious metals industry and the [London
Bullion Market Association] to reduce market disruption by helping
to find a robust transaction-based way to set the daily spot price so
the markets can continue to work efficiently and seamlessly," said Harriet
Hunnable, managing director of metals at CME Group.
The LME went one further, saying it already has a proposal that will
"provide best-practice regulatory compliance while maintaining the
global position of the London
market." The LME, which is owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and
Clearing Ltd., said it would give more detail "at the appropriate
time once the market consultation is complete."
The news was met with cautious optimism.
"Our concern as a producer is being able to transact at the fix," said Courtney
Lynn, treasurer of Coeur Mining Inc., the largest
listed U.S. primary-silver producer. "The challenge is going to be
getting broad acceptance" of a new benchmark, she said.
A spokesman for the LBMA said no decision had been made as to who would
administer the fix after Aug. 14.
As well as setting a price that is used by mining companies to settle
sales contracts, the fix is used to price such derivatives as
exchange-traded funds. It also affects global jewelry prices.
Ross Norman, chief executive of London-based
bullion dealer Sharps Pixley, said he had concerns over the time frame.
"To replicate...a system that has developed over 117 years is tough to
do," he said.
The silver fix has gone through various iterations in its history. Most
recently, it has been set daily at noon by way of a conference call
involving representatives from Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC
Holdings PLC and Bank of Nova Scotia. But the benchmark
was considered unviable, according to people familiar with the matter.
And after Deutsche Bank declared its intention to leave the
process as part of a wider reduction of its commodities business, London
Silver Market Fixing Ltd., which administers the fix, announced
the end of the benchmark.
The silver fix and the gold fix, which is set by four banks and has been
around since 1919, have recently come under the scrutiny of regulators
as part of a broader examination of financial benchmarks in the wake of
a global scandal involving the rigging of interest rates.
Spokespeople for Deutsche Bank and HSBC declined
to comment. A spokesman for Bank of Nova Scotia didn't
respond to a request for comment.
