Foreign exchange
Sale offers a fresh start for EBS
And they're off! Yes it's finally out in the open, EBS is up for sale, and we've got a good idea who the runners and riders are.
EBS ends sale speculation
LONDON – Interdealer broker Icap last week confirmed it is in discussions to acquire electronic forex heavyweight EBS.
Tullett Prebon sets up volatility division
LONDON – Tullett Prebon has established a volatility division, in the final stage of restructuring since parent company, Collins Stewart Tullett, acquired Prebon Yamane in 2004.
And now, the weather, from CoesFX
PLAINVIEW, NEW YORK – New York portal CoesFX last week launched a tool to predict foreign exchange rates using a 'weather forecasting' format to enable users to factor in more variables.
Integral Development boosts staff
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA – Integral Development, provider of capital markets products and services, has hired five staff in business development, finance, research and marketing.
Deutsche Bank cuts out $1 trillion
LONDON – Deutsche Bank cut out $1 trillion of what it described as 'predatory trades' last year, as it repositioned its business to make it more profitable.
BGC adds institutional FX
LONDON – BGC, the voice and electronic broking business of Cantor Fitzgerald, has confirmed the creation of an institutional FX trading desk.
This inequality must be reduced
The picture of the FX trader as a macho working class white male may to some degree be dated, but there is still not enough diversity in the market.
London behind on gender equality
LONDON – The paucity of women forex professionals in London is likely to persist as its reputation as a male-dominated arena continues, according to market observers.
Facilitate to accumulate
Kim Fournais, chief executive of Saxo Bank, says the race to deliver the perfect multi-product trading platform need not be a zero-sum game
BarCap adds CME options to Barx
NEW YORK/CHICAGO – Barclays Capital has become the first bank to provide CME eurodollar options strategies capability to its electronic trading system, Barx.
Korea to restrict currency data
SEOUL – The Bank of Korea (BoK) is set to restrict parties that are able to view real-time currency data, in a bid to curb currency speculation, from next month.
Milan bank makes cuts overseas
MILAN – Banca Popolare di Milano has closed its overseas FX capabilities and now operates exclusively from Milan.
Deutsche Bank cuts out $1 trillion
LONDON – Deutsche Bank cut out $1 trillion of what it described as 'predatory trades' last year, as it repositioned its business to make it more profitable.
ABN names new Asia distribution head
SINGAPORE – ABN Amro has named Andrew Ford regional head of foreign exchange and local markets distribution for Asia-Pacific in Singapore, as the Dutch bank continues its push in the region.
Nybot launches euro index
NEW YORK – The New York Board of Trade (Nybot) will today launch trading in euro index options, as further evidence of the demand for exchange-traded currency products.
Wealth management: the new investment banking?
LONDON – Wealth management could become "the next investment banking", as more investment banks look for alternative sources of liquidity in an already over-saturated market, according to market participants.
Bank of England revises forex guidelines
LONDON – The Bank of England last week introduced its updated code on good market practice in foreign exchange, changing its format and making amendments to its content.
Goldman forex chief retires
NEW YORK – Industry veteran Peter Gerhard has retired from his post at Goldman Sachs, after 23 years there.
BoC taps EBS Spot, sets up FX desks
BEIJING – China's largest FX trading bank by volume, Bank of China (Beijing) is the latest bank to use EBS Spot, the e-FX spot broking platform.
EBS enhances market data offering
LONDON & New York – FX platform EBS has enhanced its spot capabilities with an additional market data offering.
StanChart builds in Asia
SHANGHAI & HONG KONG – Standard Chartered has hired Fu Qing, to head FX trading in Shanghai.
Lesson from Refco: keep it transparent
Yes, this is the second editorial in a row that I have written about Refco, but I make no apology for it. There are too many important lessons to be learned from the collapse for the industry to be able to move on as if nothing had happened.