Foreign exchange
Correlation for hedging and speculation
One of the most surprising FX developments in the past year has been the re-emergence of the use of correlation products. Ade Odunsi, a director in Merrill Lynch’s FX risk advisory group in New York, suggests two such solutions for a hedging and a…
FXI launches managed trading for institutions
FARMINGVILLE, NY -- Online currency trading firm FXI Corporation is launching an Institutional Trading Services (ITS) division in response to growing demand for managed trading accounts from hedge funds and asset managers, an official said last week.
Emerging FX takes off online
LONDON -- Increasing demand from both corporate and hedge fund clients for the ability to trade emerging markets (EM) currencies online is leading banks to boost their e-trading offerings in this area, senior officials told FX Week .
Reuters to launch FX swaps
LONDON -- Reuters is to expand its foreign exchange product range by launching FX swaps on its Reuters Dealing 3000 matching platform next month, a senior official said last week.
NAB report to reveal ‘control breakdowns’
MELBOURNE -- Pricewaterhouse- Coopers’ (PWC) report on the forex options trading scandal that has shaken National Australia Bank (NAB) in recent weeks is expected to expose a number of risk control problems at the bank, Graham Kraehe, NAB’s new chairman,…
RBS leading UK FX race
LONDON -- Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) reported a 24% increase in foreign exchange revenues for 2003, the largest year-on-year rise among UK banks reporting their results last week.
FXCM hits back at CFTC charge
NEW YORK -- Online trading firm Forex Capital Markets (FXCM) hit back at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last week, after the regulator charged it with liability for an allegedly fraudulent trading firm.
UBS and CSFB to grow prime brokerage
ZURICH -- Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse both nominated prime brokerage as key areas of growth for their financial markets businesses, in their annual results reports published last week.
Ex-MMS team sets up new analysis firm
NEW YORK -- Three managers from the former MMS International, the currency analysis firm bought by publishing group Informa, have set up a new real-time technical analysis service for spot FX.
Tradition takes 10% stake in IFX Group
LAUSANNE -- Swiss broker Compagnie Financière Tradition has taken a 10% stake in UK online trading firm IFX Group, the firm announced last week.
CME slashes fees
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Mercantile Exchange will slash Asian and North American trading fees from March for new members, as it seeks to widen its client base after the launch of Eurex US.
Changes afoot at Merrill Lynch
NEW YORK -- A major restructuring of Merrill Lynch’s FX management is underway, according to sources close to the bank in New York.
Deutsche closing gap on Citi?
FRANKFURT -- Deutsche Bank could be about to close the forex-earnings gap with rival Citigroup, if FX figures match the 33% dollar-terms improvement in its debt group, announced last week.
Accrual strategy counters euro/dollar vol
The next phase of dollar weakness is unlikely to be as monotonous as the previous one. Dollar sellers should therefore use an accrual strategy to exploit market volatility, says Bart Wong, senior FX structurer at Barclays Capital in London
Banks hire for Euro corporates
LONDON -- BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank SEB and SG Corporate & Investment Bank are among the banks building European corporate FX sales teams, as clients step-up activity in response to volatile markets.
New accounting rules put focus on training
LONDON -- New accounting regulations and recent instances of suspected fraud in the forex markets should make training financial markets staff a top priority, said officials at online training firm Intuition in London.
Saxo’s FX volume growth builds profits
COPENHAGEN -- Saxo Bank had its most active trading month ever in January, with over $93 billion worth of forex trading on its platform, officials said last week. The volumes represent an increase of over 200% since January 2003, when volumes were $28.5…
Informa completes analysis integration
LONDON -- Informa Global Markets (IGM), the new analysis firm formed through the merger of MMS International and MCM, has completed the integration of its analysis teams.
CAI, CL chiefs share top posts
PARIS -- Crédit Agricole Indosuez (CAI) and Crédit Lyonnais (CL) executives will share the management of foreign exchange after the two banks’ merger on April 30, it emerged last week.
How to ride out the rising Aussie
The stellar rise of the Aussie doesn’t have to be bad news for Australian exporters. Wes Price, of ANZ Bank’s consultative risk management group in Melbourne, explains why
ACI reaffirms manager liability for fraud
LONDON -- Ultimate responsibility for misdemeanours on the trading floor rests with senior management, forex industry body ACI reminded market participants last week, in a letter prompted by recent reports of "alleged fraud or malpractice" in the…
More banks put money on research
LONDON -- ABN Amro and Barclays Capital are among the increasing number of banks putting money on their trade recommendations for FX. Both have allocated money to start trading on model portfolios this year, joining CSFB, Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase as…
Firms race for North American retail investors
NEW YORK -- Trading firms and exchanges are building FX products targeting the retail market, as retail investor interest in foreign exchange soars in North America.
EBS set to cut delays with direct data feed
LONDON -- Spot broker EBS will launch a new direct data feed today, February 2, which aims to cut delays in the distribution of its spot prices from third parties such as Bloomberg, Moneyline and Reuters.