JP Morgan’s Paul Wilson on why securities lending is in robust health, despite market turmoil

On the three year anniversary of the default of Lehman Brothers we caught up with JP Morgan’s Paul Wilson to hear how his European lending business is navigating the recent volatility. Paul successfully opposed the motion that “securities lending is still in the dark ages,” in a debate at our London Forum last March. Armed with the way the industry has been unruffled by recent events (such as the short selling bans) he makes an even stronger case that securities lending is in good health and has “moved on.” In a model of calm and considered discourse, we discuss the current lender/borrower dynamic as well as hear his views on the merits of Central Counterparts.

While regulators continue to offer their opinion on securities lending (watch out for the Bank of England’s Quarterly Bulletin next week), the market itself is not waiting for their pronouncements but evolving of its own accord in reaction to market conditions. See Paul in action via this 10 minute video: