The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has set the implementation date for the first stage in its two-phased process for moving to an automated, market-based ISDAFIX rate setting. These steps are a key development in the ongoing industry initiative to ensure alignment of ISDAFIX practices with evolving best practices in the setting of benchmark rates.

ISDAFIX is a benchmark for annual swap rates for swap transactions worldwide.

The first phase of the process includes a number of steps, expected to be implemented during the first quarter of 2014, to enhance the ISDAFIX polling process in response to the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.

“Our ongoing work to strengthen the process, governance and controls for the existing ISDAFIX framework is a key initiative for Isda,” said Stephen O’Connor, Isda Chairman. “Changes to the current polling methodology are an important step in this work and will improve the transparency of this important rate-setting process.”

As part of these changes, Isda will be standardizing the polling process across currencies. On January 27, 2014, Thomson Reuters, which has served as the collection agent for all non-US dollar ISDAFIX rates, will take on the USD process, replacing interdealer broker Icap.

“We appreciate Isda’s interest in having a consistent polling process across each of the relevant currencies and fixings,” Icap said in a statement. “As swap market structures evolve, we remain committed to participating in the development and administration of benchmark processes where we can add value to market functioning and transparency.”

Once Thomson Reuters has taken on the USD process, it will work with panel banks to change the polling window length across all main currencies to 10 minutes from the current range of five to 59 minutes.

The second stage in the process includes moving from the current bank submission-based method to an automated model that utilizes live prices from multilateral trading facilities (MTFs).

Isda is currently reviewing the technical and operational requirements to capture live prices from MTFs. An initial analysis provides strong support for moving to an automated MTF-based submission approach for ISDAFIX. Historical data of MTF rates shows that the prices from MTFs are extremely close on average to the ISDAFIX rate. The results demonstrate an average difference of less than 0.02 basis points between the MTF approach and the ISDAFIX rates that were based on the submission approach for the period from January 2012 to June 2013.

The target for the transition to a MTF submission-based approach is the second quarter of this year for euro swaps, with the US dollar and sterling swaps following later in 2014 or early 2015.

Isda has clarified the definition of ISDAFIX to emphasize that contributing banks should use executable bid/offer rates. The definition includes a table referencing typical contract sizes for each market in order to provide a reference point for all banks and ensure consistency.

Work is under way to establish an ISDAFIX Code of Conduct and an Isda Oversight Committee, which will address internal governance, systems and controls so as to maintain the highest standards and professional reputation for ISDAFIX and contributing banks and to comply with the Iosco Principles for Financial Benchmarks.