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Chris Whittall

@chriswhittall.bsky.social
2.1K followers 390 following 762 posts

Associate Editor, derivatives and secondary markets, at IFR. Views all mine.

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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
As @chriswhittall.bsky.social notes, Paramount 5yr CDS has gone bonkers.
Chart showing the 5yr CDS for Oracle (in pink), Paramount (in cyan) and also BBB spreads over government bonds (dark blue).

(BBB spreads are the ICE BofA BBB corporate bond index option adjusted spreads)
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Some very cool charts in @tobyn.bsky.social 's take on the Paramount Skydance bond market kerfuffle www.ft.com/content/2c56...
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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
🚨Paramount Skydance = Oracle??? www.ft.com/content/2c56...
ft.com
The Ellison credit complex gets a bit more complex
If it wasn’t for the PSKY kid . . .
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The editor who chose this picture must've been very happy with themselves, although it appears to have been changed online now
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Bank of America chart showing peak concentration in major bubbles "Bull case is 'it's the railroads this time'.... bad news... railroad boom's backdrop was falling UST yields, and big top in railroads caused by credit/liquidity events."
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Goldman Sachs: Latin America would be most exposed to a US diesel export ban
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Paramount credit default swaps going parabolic in the wake of its $50bn-plus debt sale More in our story here: www.ifre.com/bonds/249336...
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Barclays on US diesel prices: "If the shock persists, we estimate 15-20bp upside to core inflation next year."
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Who's Who at Jane Street? www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
bloomberg.com
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
30-year UK Gilt yields rise above 6%
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
UBS on rising cross-asset correlations
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW: Risk recycling revolution fuels banks’ structured products boom A new breed of derivatives hedges is underpinning an issuance boom in structured notes Comes as banks turn to nonbank liquidity providers/hedge funds to absorb some of their diciest trading exposures www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
ifre.com
Risk recycling revolution fuels banks’ structured products boom | IFR
People & Markets Nonbank trading firms expand further into exotic equity derivatives
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
No surprises that John Waldron looks nailed on for the top Goldman Sachs job www.wsj.com/finance/bank...
wsj.com
Exclusive | Goldman’s Board Has Discussed a Plan to Name John Waldron as Its Next CEO
Under the plan, David Solomon, who has led the bank since 2018, would step down as soon as next year and be executive chair.
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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Matt Levine @matt-levine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The timing of this newsletter may have something to do with my annual trip to the Burning Man festival, after which I tend to return ‘with ideas.’ www.bloomberg.com/opinion/news...
bloomberg.com
Banks Recycle the Risk
Also Nvidia’s buyback, Automattic intrigue and agentic sports betting.
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Paramount Skydance lines up record-breaking $44bn bond sale www.ifre.com/bonds/249158...
ifre.com
Paramount Skydance readies record-breaking US$44.7bn bond sale | IFR
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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Government bonds are on track for their worst year since the great inflation shock of 2022 Corporate debt, which usually moves in lockstep, has proven remarkably resilient despite a record wave of US hyperscaler issuance "Credit is the asset class of the moment" www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Government bonds are on track for their worst year since the great inflation shock of 2022 Corporate debt, which usually moves in lockstep, has proven remarkably resilient despite a record wave of US hyperscaler issuance "Credit is the asset class of the moment" www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Morgan Stanley Derivatives interview with BlackRock's Rick Rieder "I do a lot of over-writing in equities... I find single name volatility, both sides, is generally a pretty good place to play." www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3L4...
youtube.com
Break the Playbook with Rick Rieder
YouTube video by Morgan Stanley
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
*CLICK* www.ft.com/content/6c38...
ft.com
How Poland lost $230mn trying to buy Venezuelan oil with crypto
An attempt to use digital currencies for a bold oil trade became one of Poland’s biggest scandals
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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: Nonbank traders make Wall Street’s old guard up their game Nonbanks are set to grab 30% of the industry revenue pool in global markets this year, says BCG, up from 14% in 2019 "Nonbanks have caused us to get smarter, to integrate... to become nimbler" www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
ifre.com
Nonbank traders make Wall Street’s old guard up their game | IFR
People & Markets Banks follow trading firms in integrating risk books
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
now that's a quote www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: Nonbank traders make Wall Street’s old guard up their game Nonbanks are set to grab 30% of the industry revenue pool in global markets this year, says BCG, up from 14% in 2019 "Nonbanks have caused us to get smarter, to integrate... to become nimbler" www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
ifre.com
Nonbank traders make Wall Street’s old guard up their game | IFR
People & Markets Banks follow trading firms in integrating risk books
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
UK Gilts not loving Brent up near $110 Two-year yield approaching 5%
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Barclays: Time for caution "AI leaders call for slowing the pace of development, oil has crossed $100, USTs are nearing 5%, and equity seasonals are poor. We think it’s time for caution; a near-term pullback in risk assets is likely."
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Citigroup's Kaiser: "We shift to neutral on US equity risk. A potential slowdown in AI model development could crimp EPS revisions...CPI was unfriendly while sharply higher yields + oil were reminders of strong cross-asset headwinds. FOMC poised to hike with stocks sensitive to the # + duration."
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Does the House win if the 10yr yield stays below 5%?
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Goldman Sachs: "Fixed income demand still resilient despite rising rates" "For most of 2026, investors steadily allocated capital to fixed income... particularly in short-term US government bonds.... Demand for long-duration exposure has [also] remained resilient"
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
SocGen's Sentiment Indicator back towards late July lows Often a good contrarian signal
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Morgan Stanley estimates the Bank of England's quantitative tightening has added 25bp to 10-year Gilt yields and ~70bp to 30-year yields "The impact of balance-sheet reduction has been more pronounced further out the curve, where duration supply matters more and structural demand has faded"
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Polls suggesting it'll be a Le Pen-Melenchon run off in next year's French presidential elections unless one of the centrist candidates (either Philippe or Attal) drops out via @europeelects.bsky.social
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Goldman Sachs breaks down global rise in government bond yields this summer by inflation swaps/real yields
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Feels toppy
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Morgan Stanley on the low implied volatility across markets despite uncertainty over the macro outlook
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
From backwater to driving force: Asia emerges as crucial equities trading hub The AI trade has transformed Asia into the fastest-growing part of banks’ equities divisions Bank trading revenues projected to hit US$33bn this year, 2x 2024's total + roughly same as EMEA www.ifre.com/people-and-m...
ifre.com
From backwater to driving force: Asia emerges as equities trading hub | IFR
People & Markets Hedge fund influx strengthens banks' prime and financing activities in the region
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Not sure I can handle too many more anecdotes about Leopold Aschenbrenner's wedding www.ft.com/content/ea9c...
ft.com
Jane Street’s growing pains
The secretive firm may need to change its ways, as its size and risk appetite increase
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Meme king @ghose.bsky.social nails the WSJ/Druck/AI kerfuffle
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
SEC subpoenas Wall Street banks over Situational Awareness www.ft.com/content/c36d...
ft.com
SEC subpoenas Wall Street banks over Situational Awareness
Leopold Aschenbrenner’s AI-focused hedge fund nearly collapsed in July before striking a deal with Citadel
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Goldman Sachs: Why US Equity Returns Are Broadening Beyond AI Stocks www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UNI...
youtube.com
Why US Equity Returns Are Broadening Beyond AI Stocks
YouTube video by Goldman Sachs
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Nice chart from Matt King at Satori Insights on government debt piles vs maturity profile "Nobody big funds this short"
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Andrew Sheets in Morgan Stanley's global fixed income outlook published in early August
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Great piece from Toby on how money market funds are helping fuel the boom in bank prime financing/hedge fund leverage bsky.app/profile/toby...
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Deutsche Bank Rebuilds Energy Trading With String of Hires www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Deutsche Bank Rebuilds Energy Trading Unit With String of Hires
Deutsche Bank AG is making a major push to rebuild its energy trading business more than a decade after it largely exited the commodities sector.
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Hamza Lemssouguer’s Arini Hedge Fund Loses 8% in July on Soured Credit Bets www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Lemssouguer’s Hedge Fund Loses 8% in July on Soured Credit Bets
Hamza Lemssouguer’s Arini Capital Management lost roughly 8% in July on soured credit bets, according to people familiar with the matter.
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
"[Bessent] understands the problem. But understanding the problem and being able to do something material about it are two different things. The Treasury simply can’t control long-term yields" Jim Caron, chief investment officer at Morgan Stanley Investment Management: www.ft.com/content/f01f...
ft.com
Scott Bessent takes on bond vigilantes in $32tn Treasury market
Wall Street investors say move to buy more long-term US debt is a ‘band-aid on a bullet hole’
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Quant hedge funds suffer worst day in 2 years as Treasury boosts buyback and Moderna shares leap www.ft.com/content/d3fb...
ft.com
Quant hedge funds suffer worst day in 2 years as Treasury boosts buyback and Moderna shares leap
Tumultuous session puts further pressure on momentum trades that have been unsettled since AI-related stock sell-off
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Some measured thoughts from Nellie Liang on the Treasury Twist www.ft.com/content/3d62...
ft.com
Nellie Liang: ‘Ultimately the goal is to signal that high rates are a concern’
Former Treasury official on what Scott Bessent is up to
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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
NEW: Goldman Sachs doubles down on risky rates trading business Large P&L swings have thrust Goldman's rates trading unit into the spotlight this year Our deepdive explores the high-risk approach Goldman takes in its trading division - and why it's here to stay www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
ifre.com
Goldman Sachs doubles down on risky rates trading business | IFR
People & Markets We go again: hefty March losses won't alter high-risk approach
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
NEW: Goldman Sachs doubles down on risky rates trading business Large P&L swings have thrust Goldman's rates trading unit into the spotlight this year Our deepdive explores the high-risk approach Goldman takes in its trading division - and why it's here to stay www.ifre.com/topic-codes/...
ifre.com
Goldman Sachs doubles down on risky rates trading business | IFR
People & Markets We go again: hefty March losses won't alter high-risk approach
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Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
How Wall Street Sussed Out That Situational Awareness Was On the Ropes www.wsj.com/finance/inve...
wsj.com
Exclusive | How Wall Street Sussed Out That Situational Awareness Was On the Ropes
From whispers of an Anthropic stake sale to strange options moves, traders sensed trouble and swung into action.
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Reposted by Chris Whittall
Chris Whittall @chriswhittall.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
We wrote about how much money nonbank trading firms generate in prop trading vs market making in early 2025 Jane Street typically generates close to 70% of its revenues from prop risk-taking, we reported at the time www.ifre.com/bonds/207352...
ifre.com
Trading firms ride prop and market-making to new heights | IFR
People & Markets It's not market-making that makes most money for trading firms like Jane Street; it's prop
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