Noting that we are at “the start of the next critical stage in the transition away from LIBOR,” Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Randal K. Quarles delivered taped remarks at the June 3, 2019 Alternative Reference Rates Committee Roundtable, cohosted by the Alternative Reference Rates Committee and the New York University Stern School of Business and Salomon Center for the Study of Financial Institutions. Vice Chair Quarles reiterated warnings from regulators regarding the potential instability of LIBOR and stated that “[m]y key message to you today is that you should take the warnings seriously.” Quarles urged that the transition away from LIBOR should begin now and “simply to stop using LIBOR” is the easier path: “regardless of how you choose to transition, beginning that transition now would be consistent with prudent risk management and the duty that you owe to your shareholders and clients.” The Wall Street Journal reported that, “while the amount of debt linked to SOFR surpassed $100 billion last month, roughly eight times that amount of Libor-linked notes have been sold.” You can read Vice Chair Quarles’ full remarks here.
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Neil Bloomfield has more than a decade of experience advising major financial institutions, and other highly regulated entities in responding to government investigations, including responding to global investigations into LIBOR and other reference rates, foreign exchange trading, and the allegations raised by the Panama Papers. He also frequently advises clients as they implement programs to comply with regulatory requirements, including requirements created by Recovery and Resolution Planning and CCAR. View Mr. Bloomfield’s full bio.