
UK budget gives sterling options traders a wild ride
Reaction to tax cuts sparks most active week for GBP/USD options traders since Brexit negotiations

Sterling foreign exchange options markets remain on edge after a wild ride last week, which saw implied volatility and trading volumes surge to multi-year highs, fuelled partly by rehedging of exotic positions.
Traders rushed to buy put options after UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a surprise £45 billion ($50.9bn) of tax cuts in the so-called mini budget on September 23, causing the sterling/US dollar rate to slide more than 7% within 24 hours. In the following days, demand for options
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact customer services - www.fx-markets.com/static/contact-us, or view our subscription options here: https://subscriptions.fx-markets.com/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact customer services - www.fx-markets.com/static/contact-us to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@fx-markets.com to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@fx-markets.com
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@fx-markets.com
More on Trading
Goldman Sachs doubled FX trading revenues in 2024
Bumper Q4 powers bank to head of US dealer pack by foreign exchange revenue
EU firms fear dollar liquidity becoming tariff bargaining chip
Eurozone banks rely on dollars for 17% of funding; trade war escalation could affect access
Trump tariffs sent FX options traders on a wild ride
As US assets sold off, dealers found themselves on the front lines of a hedging scramble
FX liquidity ‘worse than Covid’ amid tariff volatility, dealers say
Available liquidity for single clips dropped to as low as $20 million ahead of tariff pause
TCA providers link FX counterparty selection with execution
Services from BestX and Tradefeedr aim to automate the pre-trade and execution process
Tariffs volatility prompts rush to re-hedge EUR/USD options books
Banks left scrambling to buy vol as spot surged beyond expectations
Dealers bullish on Bloomberg chat interface for FX markets
Service expanded its API offering to integrate broker chats into banks’ engines for cash FX pricing late last year
Corporates hamstrung in response to FX volatility
Restrictions around hedging programmes leave US firms struggling to adapt to dollar weakness