Inevitably when we write about the UK market in Structured Products magazine we find it a bit of a struggle to find any interesting products. In editorial letters it's all too easy to label the market 'boring' or 'arcane'. It looks like things may be changing, however.
At a conference in London yesterday, organised by Arete, some of the UK's most respected distributors, including NDF's Jim Goddard-Jones and Barclays' Colin Dickie, told delegates that there is "an air of optimisim in the UK right now." According to various estimates the UK market was up around 20% last year over 2005 figures, making it one of the fastest growing markets in otherwise mature European markets.
Apparently more novel product offerings, linked to a wider range of underlyings, are being brought to market and 2007 could see a return of the income product. The distributors did, however, freely admit that the simple FTSE linked product is still the king of the UK market.
Will this ever change? Is you firm bringing to market some sexy offerings previously unseen in the UK? Or will the UK remain the old man of Europe with boring offering, after boring offering?
Let me know your thoughts...
Comments (1)
I think we will see some surprises this year, especially on the private banking side. We stil have an underdeveloped market for private banking products but that is changing. This is where the real growth will come from; not from retail.
Posted by Graeme S | February 9, 2007 3:19 PM
Posted on February 9, 2007 15:19