Infrastructure
FX derivatives activity flat but healthy
BASEL -- FX derivatives volumes were relatively unchanged in the second half of 2002, the Bank for International Settlements reported last month.
Rand recovery spells good news for South African FX
JOHANNESBURG -- The dramatic recovery of the rand and surging international interest in South Africa have proved a money-maker for local banks, market participants told FX Week .
The George Jnr-George Snr divergence trade
George Bush Snr and Jnr’s presidential terms have been separated by nearly a decade. But, says Alan Ruskin, research director at 4Cast in New York, the economics on the surface look startlingly similar
Saxo Bank’s forex fund flourishes online
COPENHAGEN -- Saxo Bank’s managed FX fund has produced returns of over 3% so far this year, despite the war in Iraq and the geopolitical uncertainty that marked Q1. Saxo’s 3.08% return tops the aggregated performance of the 49 currency funds on the…
Isda adds 4pm fixing time for HK$
HONG KONG -- The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) has added a 4pm fixing time to its Hong Kong dollar IsdaFix swap rate service. That adds to the daily 11am fixing in the Hong Kong dollar. Both the 11am and 4pm Hong Kong dollar…
Intesa bows out of London
LONDON – Banca Intesa, one of the last Italian banks still trading FX in London, closed its desk in April, becoming the latest of its compatriots to consolidate forex in Italy.
EBS prime brokers unveiled
LONDON – Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will be the first prime brokers on a new interbank prime brokerage service from spot broker EBS.
HK launches euro clearing system
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong went live with a new euro clearing system last week, in an effort to reduce FX settlement risk in the Asian timezone.
Market rounds on dollar as US doubts gather
NEW YORK -- The dollar sagged to a four-year low against the euro last week, and fell across the board.
Indian market opens up
MUMBAI -- Reform of India’s FX rules could create the next large emerging market, signalling a lucrative new area for banks to exploit.
Plimsoll steps into currency overlay
NEW JERSEY -- Summit, New Jersey-based fund manager Plimsoll Capital is moving into currency overlay, and expects to secure its first clients this quarter, a senior official told FX Week .
Chinese derivatives regulations expected soon
SHANGHAI -- The Chinese central bank is expected to publish new regulations within the next few months aimed at easing tough restrictions in the country’s forex derivatives market, say bankers.
Expanding CDO market exposes new FX risks
LONDON -- The growth of the cross-border collateralised debt obligation (CDO) market -- whereby debts of varying risk are bundled together and sold to investors as one debt-type instrument -- is opening up a new source of FX risks, said market…
A firm view on the rand
Unexpected data revealing South Africa’s current account surplus has led Merrill Lynch to cite a firm view on the rand. Jos Gerson, chief economist for South Africa in Cape Town, explains key factors that must be taken into account in coming to a solution
Client trading volumes rising
LONDON -- Booming hedge fund interest and an increasing number of client banks in the market are boosting global customer forex volumes, according to data from research consultancy Greenwich Associates.
More prime brokers take to web
LONDON -- Automation of the prime brokerage industry is well underway, with a host of new services set to hit the market in the coming months.
CLS interest picks up in Asia
SINGAPORE -- Asian financial institutions are becoming increasingly aware of the continuous-linked-settlement (CLS) service, according to research made public by ABN Amro last week. Just 30% of respondents in the bank’s survey of its clients in the…
Dollar consolidation brings FX manager joy
STAMFORD, CT -- A temporary halt in the US dollar’s downtrend helped 60% of currency managers on the Parker FX Index maintain positive returns in February. But returns were limited -- the index was up just 0.16% for the month.
Trading practices yet to change post-CLS
NEW YORK -- Banks are reporting little change in the way they trade as a result of using the new continuous-linked settlement (CLS) service, according to an official survey out this week.
Electronic options broking to rise
LONDON -- Electronic broking of FX options is set to rise over the next 12 months, finds new research out this week.
Market suspects yen intervention
TOKYO -- Speculation was rife in FX markets last week that the Bank of Japan was intervening to attempt to keep the yen above 120 per dollar ahead of the Japanese fiscal year-end today (March 31).
Tech glitch strikes CLS
NEW YORK -- The failed settlement of over 20,000 Australian dollar and Japanese yen trades on the Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) service last week was caused by multiple technical faults, senior CLS officials told FX Week .
Tech glitch strikes CLS
NEW YORK -- The failed settlement of over 20,000 Australian dollar and Japanese yen trades on the Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) service last week was caused by multiple technical faults, senior CLS officials told FX Week .
The outperformance chooser option
Gavin Simms, head of FX strategies at Goldman Sachs in London, summarises an options solution for a euro-denominated corporate client looking to hedge sales in the US and Switzerland