Derivatives Market Growth Accelerates to 18% - $707.6 trillion!

By Masaki Kondo
Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Growth in derivatives markets accelerated in the first half of this year, a report from the Bank of International Settlements showed today.
Notional amounts outstanding of over-the-counter derivatives climbed 18 percent to $707.6 trillion by the end of June, compared with the six months ended December 2010, when they increased 3 percent, the bank said in the report.
Interest-rate swaps jumped 21 percent to $441.6 trillion in the first half, accounting for 62 percent of the total amount, the report showed. Credit-default swaps rose 8 percent to $32.4 trillion, the BIS said.
--Editors: Jonathan Annells, Naoto Hosoda

Judge strikes down CITI Group / SEC deal

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - A judge on Monday used unusually harsh language to strike down a $285 million settlement between Citigroup and the Securities and Exchange Commission over toxic mortgage securities, saying he couldn't tell whether the deal was fair and criticizing regulators for shielding the public from details of the firm's wrongdoing.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff said the public has a right to know what happens