Trading
Central banks increase FX holdings
BEIJING AND WASHINGTON DC – A Chinese official last week highlighted the possibility of a significant move out of US dollar reserves, as the latest IMF figures show central banks have continued to hold faith in the greenback.
Hotspot FXi adds Singapore dollar trading
SINGAPORE – Electronic trading platform Hotspot FXi has today launched trading in Singapore dollars to meet growing demand from clients.
When is it appropriate to use average rate options?
Corporates can fall into the trap of using average rate options as a cheaper alternative to European options. Jeff Cooper (right), vice-president, foreign exchange, Bank of Montreal in Toronto, clarifies the misconception
China stirs the pot
Daniel Katzive, UBS currency analyst in Stamford, looks at the implications of China's decision to widen the band on the yuan peg
RBS hits top spot in Risk poll
LONDON – Derivatives market giants Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, UBS and Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) are facing a threat from a wider number of banks trying to capture interbank business.
Platforms adopt algorithmic trading
NEW YORK – Algorithmic trading continues to gather momentum, with trading platforms EBS and Hotspot FXi linking to software provider Progress Software Corporation's Apama Algorithmic trading software.
Iceland builds foreign reserves
REYKJAVIK – The Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) has decided to increase its USD/ISK weekly buying from $2.5 million to $12.5 million by the end of the year following the improved liquidity position of the Treasury.
The first to Connect
In the penultimate platform focus, FX Week assesses the prospects of pioneering platform FX Connect
Oiling the wheels of kroner strength
Adam Myers, FX strategist at UBS in London, discusses the potential for a Norwegian kroner (NOK) setback in the short term Ministry of Finance and the Norges Bank Petroleum fund
Katrina adds to uncertainties
Recent events, notably hurricane Katrina, have jolted currency markets out of recent stability. This helped Bank of Montreal race towards the top of the three-month ranking as it predicted a weaker dollar in June.
Platforms adopt algorithmic trading
NEW YORK – Algorithmic trading continues to gather momentum, with trading platforms EBS and Hotspot FXi linking to software provider Progress Software Corporation's Apama Algorithmic trading software.
GFT tops the trend-spotters
GFT tops the three-month year-to-date forecasts this week by focusing on technical analysis, fundamentals and sentiment to obtain short- and long-term perspectives for determining currency trends, said Paul Jamgotch, managing dealer.
Dollar boosts FX derivatives
BASLE – The rally in the US dollar has worked to the benefit of exchanges offering trading in currency derivatives.
Hedging rupee currency pairs
The global markets team at ICICI Bank in Mumbai suggests ways for Indian corporates to hedge against volatility in the Indian rupee currency pairs.
Dollar slowdown "only short-term"
Saxo Bank tops the one-month ranking, following its decision to "ease back the pedal on the dollar strength projections".
Don't fall behind, use the REER
The real effective exchange rate holds the key to how the government can manage damaging rupee fluctuation, according to Kotak Mahindra Bank's Treasury Solutions team in India
The technology to succeed
In-house technology will drive volumes and profit, says Charles Marston, chief executive officer at Calypso in San Francisco
Heading for the final USD selling opportunity
Hans-Guenther Redeker, global head of FX strategy at BNP Paribas in London, suggests a way to take advantage of the prospect of near-term dollar strength to protect against the likelihood of longer-term USD weakness.
Asian currencies at risk from oil surge
JAKARTA – Asian currencies have taken a hit from surging oil prices, which remained above $60 last week despite falling off record levels set earlier this month.