Regulation
US and UK regulators sign MoU to improve market surveillance
LONDON & WASHINGTON DC – The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen market communication oversight last week.
Asia to support global growth
LONDON – Asia holds the key to global growth amid a US slowdown, Marios Maratheftis, FX strategist at Standard Chartered in London told delegates at last week's FX Week Europe Congress.
Fimat expands in Hong Kong
SYDNEY & HONG KONG – Fimat's decision to open a bank branch in Hong Kong will enable it to substantially increase its FX operations, the Société Générale-owned broker said.
Vietnam PM orders quick trial in ABN Amro case
HANOI – Vietnam's prime minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, ordered a speedy trial of ABN Amro last week over allegations that the bank's traders broke FX trading regulations.
E-commerce source of best forex talent, says market
GLOBAL – Forex staff with e-FX skills and experience are the new recruitment market 'sweet spot', according to banks and headhunters.
US banks report profits down in third quarter
NEW YORK & CHARLOTTE, N CAROLINA – Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America released positive earnings reports for the third quarter, but all failed to profit from their FX businesses.
Fimat opens banking branch in Hong Kong
HONG KONG – Brokerage firm Fimat International Banque opened a bank branch in Hong Kong last week, which will act as a regional hub for the firm.
Banks are ignoring Mifid threat, says Celent
BRUSSELS – The forex industry will be beset by law suits and regulatory action if it continues to ignore the Mifid directive coming into force next year, according to a research consultancy.
How to play gravity-defying USD/JPY
Peter Luxton, Global Markets Adviser and Shant Movsesian, Senior Options Analyst at Informa Global Markets advise taking dollar bulls into account when trading on potential weakness
Banca Aletti takes Risque approach
PARIS – Banca Aletti is going live with technology vendor Sophis' Risque front- to back-office system for its FX derivatives business.
UK business unprepared for hedging changes
LONDON – Medium-sized UK companies are unprepared for forthcoming rule changes on accounting standards that require more rigorous reporting of FX exposure, according to forex specialist HiFX.
'Boiler room' retail FX fraudsters face US court for high-pressure techniques
NEW YORK – The retail foreign exchange market suffered another blow at the end of last month, as 11 men were indicted by a US court on charges of ‘boiler room’ fraud.
BIS: debt now bigger problem than inflation
BASEL – The main structural threat to global economic growth is no longer runaway inflation, but a slower rebalancing of excess debt, according to a working paper released by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
BarCap joins algo bandwagon
LONDON – Barclays Capital (BarCap) has joined a select group of banks that has started offering algorithmic trading for forex over their single-bank platforms.
More fraud uncovered by CFTC
WASHINGTON, DC – The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has settled a forex fraud action resulting in over $2.5 million in civil penalties.
Turnover continues at RBS in sales and structuring
LONDON & GREENWICH – Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has seen two changes in sales and structuring in London, with one hire and a departure.
CFTC fines SA resident for forex fraud
WASHINGTON, DC – A New York court has fined a South African resident over $1 million for FX fraud, in an action brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Currenex adds precious metals
NEW YORK – Currenex is expanding its footprint into precious metals with the addition of gold and silver trading.
UBS maintains results trend
ZURICH & BASEL – UBS has continued the trend of strong FX results posted by US and European banks with record results for the second quarter.
Rouble hits seven-year peak against dollar
MOSCOW – The rouble hit its highest level against the US dollar for seven years last week, as the soaring price of oil boosted the Russian unit.
COESfx fined over fraud
WASHINGTON, DC – Two more cases of forex fraud were revealed last week, with US FX platform COESfx fined for misleading customers who suffered heavy trading losses.
BoA adds to London staff
LONDON – Bank of America (BoA) has made a number of hires in London as it continues to expand its forex capabilities in the City.
FXpress enhances web treasury product
BALA CYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA – FXpress Corporation, the treasury solutions provider, has released First S6, the latest version of its web-based treasury software for corporations worldwide.
Reserve diversification
Simon Derrick, chief currency strategist at the Bank of New York in London, suggests a simple, low-cost method to take advantage of any move by the Chinese authorities to diversify