Foreign exchange
Martin Wiedmann leaves UBS
ZURICH – The departure of Martin Wiedmann from UBS in Zurich last week sparked a guessing game among his peers over which bank he is set to join.
Kemp takes FX helm at Merrill
NEW YORK – Morgan Stanley FX chief Stephen Kemp is set to take on the continued build-up of Merrill Lynch’s forex business, following the resignation of co-head of global FX and rates Michael DeSa.
News and research firms set to diversify
NEW YORK – News and research firms are looking to diversify their offerings following the recent take-over of currency analysis firm MMS by publishing group Informa Global Markets, said officials.
Central counterparty clearing on the way
LONDON – LCH.Clearnet is planning to launch the first central counterparty clearing service for foreign exchange, in a move that could challenge the role of continuous-linked settlement (CLS).
HSBC names new London chief
LONDON -- HSBC will have a new head of European and Middle Eastern FX in London in early May, when Andrew Brown transfers from Hong Kong to take on the key role.
HSBC names new London chief
LONDON -- HSBC will have a new head of European and Middle Eastern FX in London in early May, when Andrew Brown transfers from Hong Kong to take on the key role.
FX profits soar as funds up risk
NEW YORK -- Citigroup and State Street both reported surges in Q1 FX revenue last week on the back of increased activity from fund managers, senior officials told FX Week .
JPMC fund trio make £55m
LONDON -- Three FX and fixed-income specialists who left JP Morgan Chase to set up a hedge fund have made profits of more than £55 million ($100 million) in their first year.
Greenwich reports e-FX divide
NEW YORK -- A sharp divide exists between active e-FX clients and those that do not trade FX online, according to new research out this week.
Mid-tier clients pile into rupee options
MUMBAI -- FX options use in India is extending to more mid-market customers, nine months on from the liberalisation of rupee options, local market participants told FX Week .
Polish brokers struggle with new regulations
WARSAW -- Foreign exchange brokers in Poland are set to be in breach of forex law as a result of changes required before Poland accedes to the European Union next month. From May 1, all firms offering any foreign exchange trading services, across spot,…
JPMC fund trio make £55m
LONDON -- Three FX and fixed-income specialists who left JP Morgan Chase to set up a hedge fund have made profits of more than £55 million ($100 million) in their first year.
FX hedge funds lure UK govt pensions
MOLD, FLINTSHIRE -- Flintshire County Council in the UK, which leads the £550 million ($1 billion) Clwyd Pension Fund, has become the first local government authority to convert to currency hedge funds.
Profiting from the Chinese yuan
With speculation rife on the revaluation of the Chinese yuan, James Davison of the global FX derivatives marketing team at ABN Amro in London, examines potential ways for derivatives traders to benefit
Richmond launches currency fund for Asia
HONG KONG -- Richmond Asset Management is set to launch a new fund in Hong Kong this month, to capitalise on increased opportunities to profit from currency strengthening, officials said last week. The Bermuda-based Currency Optimiser fund will be…
NAB "collusive broker" speculation grows
MELBOURNE -- Cantor Fitzgerald last week refused to comment on growing speculation that it is the broker referred to in two reports into National Australia Bank’s A$360 million (US$280 million) forex options losses.
Traders active on MoF retreat
TOKYO -- Traders are set for heavy action in the coming weeks after the Ministry of Finance’s (MoF) withdrawal from yen intervention last week, ending its massive $360 billion spending spree of the past 12 months.
CS steps into fifth place for forex revenues
ZURICH -- Credit Suisse Group published its FX trading results last week, taking the bank to fifth position in FX Week ’s yearly revenues ranking, based on banks’ announced results so far this year.
Banks unclear on new research rules
LONDON -- The UK’s FX Joint Standing Committee is to host a meeting with UK regulator the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to clarify the forex implications of FSA rules on research that were released last week.
Travelex to buy Fortis FX unit
TORONTO -- FX services group Travelex has reached an agreement to buy Fortis’ Dutch corporate and retail FX subsidiary GWK Bank for e17.5 million, the firm announced last week.
HSBC reaps rewards in US
NEW YORK -- HSBC has seen a threefold increase in FX client volume in North America over the past year, following its recruitment drive in the region. And gains made in the first quarter of 2004 suggest it is continuing to build that volume "at a very…
Watchdog savages NAB
MELBOURNE -- National Australia Bank’s currency options desk will remain closed until it has satisfied requirements issued by its regulator in a damning report released last week.
Calyon names regional managers
PARIS -- Calyon, the group to be formed from the merger of Crédit Agricole Indosuez (CAI) and Crédit Lyonnais (CL) on April 30, has agreed the structure of its global spot FX business and appointed regional heads, a senior official said last week.
Investment banks break records
NEW YORK -- This year looks set to be a record-breaker for banks' FX earnings, if the commercial banks follow the lead set by the US investment houses.