LIBOR is coming to an end. While many USD settings will continue until the end of 2023, the majority of LIBOR panel of global banks will cease by the end of 2021. In March, the ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) made confirmation of the dates that all LIBOR settings will discontinue. In response, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published several reports and publications supporting a “smooth transition” away from LIBOR by the end of 2021.

The FSB made recommendations for financial, non-financial sector firms, and authorities to consider by publishing the following statements and reports:

• “An updated global transition roadmap that, drawing on national working group recommendations, summarises the high-level steps firms will need to take now and over the course of 2021 to complete their transition.
• A paper reviewing overnight risk-free rates and term rates, building on the concept that the tools necessary to complete the transition are currently available. The FSB cautions market participants against waiting for the development of additional tools, in particular forward-looking term risk-free rates.
• A statement on the use of the ISDA spread adjustments in cash products, to support transition particularly in loan markets, which remains an area of concern with much new lending still linked to LIBOR.
• A statement encouraging authorities to set globally consistent expectations that regulated entities should cease the new use of LIBOR in line with the relevant timelines for that currency, regardless of where those trades are booked.”

Additional information on the FSBs recommendations for LIBOR transition is available here.