Trading
Safe-haven appetite for Scandi currencies wavers
Despite the rush into the Norwegian krone and Swedish kronor following Swiss National Bank intervention on September 6, FX traders and strategists are lukewarm about the Scandi currencies' capacity to become long-term safe havens
Central banks take aim at dollar-funding shortage
Co-ordinated action from five central banks eases the pressure on dollar funding for European banks, but EUR/USD cross-currency basis swap market remains under stress
Lloyds rolls out Arena to compete in FX e-commerce
Launch of Arena platform comes after more than a year of development, which started in mid-2010 with the formation of a client advisory board to determine the key elements of the e-trading platform
A view from the buy side: Calpers
Volatile markets have posed challenges for participants in the FX market across the globe. Eric Busay, portfolio manager at Calpers, talks about the Swiss franc, US dollar and regulatory change. By Farah Khalique
Sterling: an old story gets interesting
Sterling has declined in popularity in recent times, but deteriorating economic conditions elsewhere mean it has started to look more attractive, argues Elsa Lignos
Options traders sense SNB running out of steam
Options traders are betting on further appreciation of the Swiss franc, following comments from the Swiss economy minister that Switzerland will have to put up with a strong currency
AUDIO: Get ready for crisis 2.0
Nick Beecroft, senior markets consultant at Saxo Bank in London, warns that financial markets are at the brink of crisis 2.0.
Taking stock of 2011: Volatile trading
The challenges already thrown at the FX market in 2011 have been multi-faceted, ranging from a tough trading environment in major currency pairs to the preparation for new trading and clearing regulations. In the second of a series of articles taking…
Corporates cover their backs with longer-dated options
Corporate hedgers buy longer-dated options amid increased volatility in foreign exchange markets, say market participants
Trading like it’s 2008
Foreign exchange markets in 2011 continue to show parallels to 2008, but the economy is unlikely to slip back into recession and Asian currencies look set to benefit from broad-based US dollar selling. Callum Henderson looks at the key similarities…
View from a global head of FX
Tim Carrington, global head of FX at Royal Bank of Scotland, talks to Farah Khalique about the exceptionally poor liquidity in FX markets in recent weeks and why he remains bearish on the US dollar but bullish on sterling and the yen
Taking stock of 2011: the euro
The challenges 2011 has already thrown at foreign exchange market participants have been multi-faceted, ranging from a tough trading environment in major currency pairs to the preparation for new trading and clearing regulations. In the first of a series…
Options traders braced for further SNB intervention
Demand has switched from downside EUR/CHF options to upside options in anticipation of further Swiss franc weakening measures from SNB, say senior options traders
Spotlight on: Philippe Ghanem, ADS Securities
The Abu Dhabi-based brokerage’s managing director talks to Joel Clark about the launch of ADS Securities, and his hopes that it will compete internationally with electronic brokers across FX, commodities and other asset classes
Swiss franc strength attributed to 'absolutely no liquidity'
Dramatically reduced liquidity in August, coupled with sovereign debt concerns in the eurozone, have combined to strengthen the Swiss franc, say strategists
Kellaway takes interim trading head role at Lloyds
Head of swaps trading steps up to new interim role following restructuring at Lloyds and the departure of Ian Firth from his previous role as head of treasury and trading
Investors caught out by strength of Swiss franc and yen
Intervention from Swiss and Japanese authorities last week to weaken currencies meets with mixed success and leaves trading desks facing uncertain environment
Our summer of discontent
July and August typically herald a quiet period for FX trading desks with low volatility and subdued investor activity. 2011 has been very different, with banks facing a number of challenges across major currencies in recent weeks. How have they managed…
Trading volumes soar in July, report EBS, Reuters and FXall
High volatility in FX markets as a result of eurozone sovereign debt issues and the US debt problems have resulted in record volumes, platforms report
State Street buys into Digital Vega
State Street stake comes weeks after Deutsche Börse bought a minority stake
Thomson Reuters launches CNH swap trading on Matching
First CNH swaps on Thomson Reuters Matching were traded on July 25 by two undisclosed banks, vendor reveals
Questions raised over UK’s FX volume surge
Market participants attribute a range of factors to the 23% rise in FX turnover in the UK reported by the Bank of England's FX Joint Standing Committee on July 25
FX Week USA 2011: Delegates talk strategy
Farah Khalique talks to delegates and presenters at FX Week USA about the trends driving currency markets in 2011
CNH deliverable forwards in Hong Kong could outgrow NDFs
Rising offshore renminbi interbank rates in Hong Kong have made its deliverable forwards market the cheapest way for corporates to hedge, compared with NDFs and onshore forwards, say bankers