Articles by Robert Mackenzie Smith
Central bank intervention weighs on investor sentiment
FX strategists expect continued uncertainty for major currencies in the fourth quarter as a result of central bank intervention
Banks struggle to build FX as liquidity slows
Falling levels of FX activity, particularly among institutional clients, have made it difficult for banks – particularly the newer entrants – to beef up their forex businesses,
BNP Paribas on winning streak with bullish euro forecast
The French bank’s forecast of euro strength has landed it at the top of the one-month forecast rankings for the fourth time in five weeks
Training traders
What role does emotion play in the decision-making process of traders, and can they be trained to better manage their emotions? Saxo Bank believes they can, and is developing a process to support that training. Robert Mackenzie Smith reports
Platform volumes rise modestly in September
FX spot volumes were up on EBS, Reuters and FXall in September compared to August, though volumes were still significantly down year-on-year on both EBS and Thomson Reuters
FX sales co-head leaves HSBC
Robbert Sijbrandij has left HSBC to spend time with his family in Switzerland, having joined the bank in August 2010
Technology key for Saxo at 20
Saxo Bank celebrated its 20th birthday last month by flying its staff out to Egypt for a celebration in front of the Pyramids, hosted by co-founders Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen. Robert Mackenzie Smith meets them in Copenhagen
Barclays Stockbrokers taps FXCM for retail FX platform
FXCM replaces Integral as the chosen technology provider for Barclays Stockbrokers' new FX trading platform
Institutional Liquidity hires five in Chicago
The new team in Chicago will operate under Greg Cieply, formerly a senior vice-president at Fixi
SmartTrade plans upgrade to LiquidityFX aggregation tool
Liquidity management technology vendor will add several new functions to its new aggregation system by the end of this year
BNP Paribas hires sales head for North America
Former Nomura salesman has joined the French bank in New York, reporting locally to George Nunn
StanChart options duo joins ANZ
Two senior forex options traders that left Standard Chartered in July have joined ANZ in Singapore and New York
Euro will continue to rise, says HSBC
HSBC's bullish view on the euro - which it continues to hold in its current forecasts - lands the bank at the top of the one-month forecast rankings
Saxo marks 20 years with staff party in Egypt
Danish investment bank Saxo Bank celebrated its 20th birthday last week by flying its staff to Egypt for a party hosted by its co-founders
UBS sales head for southern Europe departs
The Swiss bank is moving parts of its FX sales team in Lugano back to London as the head of FX sales for the region leaves the bank
Four down in FX at Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse has this month seen four director-level departures in FX sales and trading in Singapore, London and New York
The platforms of 2012: TraFXpure
When it launches next year, TraFXpure hopes to become a primary trading platform in the FX market, alongside EBS and Thomson Reuters. While that’s a tall order in today’s environment, Tradition’s Daniel Marcus, Campbell Adams and Roger Rutherford believe…
Who picks up the tab for regulation costs?
Many buy-side firms expect their banks to absorb the costs associated with clearing and reporting of non-deliverable forwards and eventually forex options. But banks have other ideas, with some already quantifying fairly substantial hikes in…
Deutsche creates cross-asset platforms business under Amrolia
Deutsche Bank's Zar Amrolia runs a new business focused on electronic platforms across fixed income, while Kevin Rodgers has stepped up to become global head of FX
Likelihood of Grexit diminishes ahead of troika review
As European authorities head to Greece to inspect the country's finances, strategists believe it is increasingly unlikely authorities will allow the country to leave the euro
Credit Suisse hires options trading head for Asia
Former Citi trader has relocated to Singapore to join the Swiss bank
ADS Securities hires senior dealer from Alpari
Bryan Seegers moves from New York to Abu Dhabi to take up senior dealer role at ADS Securities
CIBC bets on gradual upward curve for US dollar
A set of forecasts based on the view that the US dollar would remain stagnant before rising later this year lands CIBC at the top of the three-month rankings
Spotlight on: Drew Niv, FXCM
FXCM’s co-founder and chief executive talks to Robert Mackenzie Smith about the challenges facing the foreign exchange market in 2012, as well as the company’s new initiatives, including the FastMatch platform and the 50% stake it has acquired in Lucid…