News
Bank of England revises forex guidelines
LONDON – The Bank of England last week introduced its updated code on good market practice in foreign exchange, changing its format and making amendments to its content.
Lamont to head money transfer association
LONDON – The UK Chancellor who presided over 'Black Wednesday' in 1992 when Britain crashed out of the ERM is to head an association of money transfer businesses.
COESfx enhances trade capabilities
PLAINVIEW, NY – COESfx, the trading platform and electronic currency network, has enhanced its offering, increasing control and ease-of-use for retail and institutional FX traders.
Goldman forex chief retires
NEW YORK – Industry veteran Peter Gerhard has retired from his post at Goldman Sachs, after 23 years there.
BoC taps EBS Spot, sets up FX desks
BEIJING – China's largest FX trading bank by volume, Bank of China (Beijing) is the latest bank to use EBS Spot, the e-FX spot broking platform.
Citi poaches Coyne to build up FXPB
LONDON – Citigroup is building up its FX prime brokerage offering, and has gazumped Barclays Capital in hiring Andrew Coyne to lead the effort.
New FX records at CME
CHICAGO – The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has posted record-breaking volumes for FX products in 2005.
EBS enhances market data offering
LONDON & New York – FX platform EBS has enhanced its spot capabilities with an additional market data offering.
Currency strategies down in 2005
LONDON – Most currency funds are likely to have ended 2005 nursing losses, with trend followers down almost 10%, indicates research from ABN Amro.
PBoC gives OTC foreign exchange go-ahead
BEIJING/SHANGHAI – The People's Bank of China (PBoC) opened up the country's spot FX market to over-the-counter trades last week, and introduced 13 market-makers to provide liquidity in the renminbi.
StanChart builds in Asia
SHANGHAI & HONG KONG – Standard Chartered has hired Fu Qing, to head FX trading in Shanghai.
US Bank opens FX in California
LOS ANGELES – US Bank, a subsidiary of US Bancorp, has opened an FX office in downtown Los Angeles, California.
Eurex confirms US partner search
CHICAGO – Swiss-German exchange Eurex has confirmed it is in dialogue with numerous rival US-based exchanges about forming a partnership to aid its ailing US business.
RBC takes on Risque
NEW YORK – Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is to implement Risque, a risk management tool from Sophis, a cross-asset front- to back-office solutions vendor.
Bloomberg goes live with FX options
NEW YORK – Bank of America (BoA) has become the first bank to trade FX options with customers over the Bloomberg terminal.
Keeping it real
BRASILIA – The Brazilian real (BRL) was one of the strongest currencies of 2005, and political din surrounding the October elections is expected to lead to further strength in the unit, say market observers.
Guarantees limiting overall bonus levels
LONDON – The increasing number of guaranteed bonuses in 2005 to top-performers means staff without these packages are likely to see a drop in bonus levels, say market observers.
Bloomberg goes live with FX options
NEW YORK – Bank of America (BoA) has become the first bank to trade FX options with customers over the Bloomberg terminal.
Size matters, survey finds
GREENWICH, CT – The ability to execute large currency trades is one of the key components in winning new FX business from corporates and institutional clients, according to research from Greenwich Associates.
NAB rogue traders charged, senior staff dismissed
MELBOURNE – A year after the National Australia Bank rogue trading scandal was uncovered, January 2005 saw the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) release information about charges handed down to the traders involved.
News in brief
LONDON – November saw HSBC knock Citigroup out of the medal position at the FX Week Best Banks Awards.