At mid-year 2011, US structured products sales have already surpassed the $30bn mark, meaning that, barring any unforeseen severe market dislocations or major regulatory speed bumps, this year could set a record for US sales, according to data from SRP. . For the full year 2010, the US structured products market sold more than $53bn of products across just over 8,000 structured notes and market-linked... 

The size of the average structured note offering in the U.S. grew 26 percent this year as issuers expand distribution channels and investors favor simpler notes. The average sale was $7.82 million through the first five months of 2011, compared with $6.21 million a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from prospectuses filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission. New... 

Six months into the job, Bradley Bennett, FINRA’s enforcement chief, said the regulator is at its “high-water mark” in enforcement actions, looking back five years, and now that its backlog of cases from the financial crisis is easing, it expects to focus on structured products, with a possible large inventory of cases arising after this summer. Bennett (left), a former defense attorney, said... 

Financial writer John Wasik recently wrote an article on principal protected notes on the Reuters newswire that stated: “Let’s say a broker or banker offered you a way of reaping market gains while protecting your principal. You’d jump at it, wouldn’t you?  Thousands did and were burned to the tune of more than US$113 billion in complex ‘structured’ products since 2008.” .... 

These offerings can deliver higher returns, but look under the hood before buying them. With interest rates hovering near zero, it shouldn’t surprise financial advisers that the structured-products industry has been promoting its cash management alternatives. In these products, annual yields can top 10%, and principal is guaranteed if the investment is held to the six-year maturity. But ... 

I would like to applaud Morningstar’s efforts to educate your readers about structured products.  Like any investments, structured products have their strengths and limitations. It is only healthy for investors, practitioners, and academics to debate the pros and cons of different investments and strategies. However, to facilitate that discussion it is critically important that any information... 

Sales of structured products during the first three months of 2011 in the US are the best ever, according to SRP data. Sales of tranche products alone topped $15.2bn during the first three months of the year, with roughly $5bn in sales during each month.  At this robust pace, US sales during 2011 could top $60bn, and passing the $54bn in sales seen last year by more than 11%. In January, 632... 

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A flurry of activity in senior level hires in the U.S. structured products industry appears to demonstrate the surging popularity of these investments in the current year. In recent weeks, major firms such as Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Incapital, Barclays and others, have announced newly-created positions on the structuring and marketing side. The following is a partial list of some of the recent announcements...