Hi,I am trying to research this topic however I am finding it difficult to come up with anything tanglible to read or topics to get into. I am aware of the TRACX index that MS and JPM are jointly developing however beyond this I am not aware of any relevant industry issues or topics to consider when setting up or using CDS indices. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I am coming at this blind (i.e the issue just got dropped on my desk and I was asked to research it in double quick time) so any issues that others have considered or come across concerning this topic would be welcome. ThanksTapi.

credittrade.comIt may not be very helpful without subscribing, but its a small start

GFI has more names and data observations in their service, but I believe they don't create indexes so you would be on your own for that (they are also more expensive).

Mark-It Partners has a good methodology for generating generic and issuer specific CDS spread curves. Unfortunately, you have to get a license. The liquidity of the non-investment grade credit (NIGC) CDS market in most sectors is so poor though that any index except a generic index (i.e., generated with data from all sectors) will pretty much be a craps shoot.Regards,

Most widely traded index is the Synthetic TRACERs. Volume across multiple dealers is several hundred million USD per day. You should be able to get more info from Morgan Stanley.Goldman also has the CDS 150 default swap index and a Euro 125, which are both tradeable.

Are you looking for indices constructed of CDS that track a universe of bonds/loans, or indices that track the spreads on CDS of a given maturity/rating/whatever?

FYIMark-it Partners has launched a daily pricing service for global credit markets. The service uses XML for distribution to end users, and is based on an Oracle Corp. database. The service will use data contributed by 11 major dealers in the global credit markets: ABN Amro, Bank of America, Salomon Smith Barney, CSFB, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and TD Securities. The data is fed into Mark-it’s platform overnight, and is pooled and then cleansed to ensure integrity.Data is available in four formats: as a composite price and spread; graphed as London InterBank Offered Rate (Libor) spread curves; in the form of a daily price discrepancy service; and mapped against customers’ names. Mark-it says the applications have taken over two years to develop and use XML and Oracle technology. They can be accessed with a secure connection over the Web.Mark-it Partners, founded by former executives of TD Securities, believes the system will boost transparency in the credit markets and help credit traders to verify asset prices and improve risk management for both cash and derivative credit instruments. The company believes credit market participants currently struggle to achieve daily price verification on all but the most liquid of assets, a situation that is hindering the growth of the market.

Anything TD Securities does I would avoid like skunk roadkill.

....now daxy...where else are you going to get quotes....you can see all of the contributed prices...and you know my view on TD Securities don't you!Regards,