Top Headlines

‘Cartel’ Currency Traders Will Attempt to Prevent US Trial – Financial Times (subscription)

Three British-based former currency traders will try to get their criminal case thrown out of a New York court before it reaches trial after surrendering to US authorities following their sprawling probe into alleged rigging of foreign-exchange benchmarks.

Pound Hit by Wage Disappointment, Signs of Delay to Coalition Deal – Reuters

Sterling handed back early gains to trade lower after a reading of UK wages missed forecasts and a report that a deal needed to form a government could be delayed until next week.

Dollar on Tenterhooks as Investors Await Fed Policy Clues – Reuters

The dollar eased with investors looking past an expected US rate hike later in the day for clues on Federal Reserve policy for the rest of the year. 

FX Global Code Warrants a Close Look by Retirement Plan Fiduciaries – Profit & Loss (subscription)

Retirement plan fiduciaries, who themselves or through a third party, engage in foreign exchange transactions on behalf of the plan, should be aware of the new FX Global Code.

Tracking GBP’s Post-Election Trading Spike – Profit & Loss

CLS and Thomson Reuters (TR) have released data charting the spike in GBP trading following the UK’s recent general election.

ECB Gives Renminbi Its Forex Seal of Approval – Financial Times (subscription)

The European Central Bank has started to hold foreign exchange reserves in renminbi in what amounts to a seal of approval for Beijing’s ambitions to internationalise its currency.

Hong Kong Stock Rally Seen Immune to Currency Drop, for Now – Bloomberg

The Hong Kong dollar may be sliding into the weak end of its trading band, yet money managers see no reason for stock investors to turn bearish just yet.

Commodity Currencies Defy Oil Weakness – Financial Times (subscription)

Russian, Canadian and Swedish currencies among those making gains as Opec’s output rises. 

Citi Closes Foreign Currency Accounts for Less Wealthy Clients – Financial Times (subscription)

UK customers holding multi-currency bank accounts with Citi have been told their accounts will be closed unless they can afford to sign up to its wealth management service.

The Global Economy Is Rebounding, But There’s One Big Problem – Bloomberg

There’s a dark cloud building behind the world’s best period of synchronous growth among developed and emerging economies this decade — one that in time could rain down volatility in global markets.

Inside the Bold Attempt to Reverse a $55 Million Digital Heist – Bloomberg

A year ago a hacker stole $55 million of a virtual currency known as ether. This is the story of the bold attempt to rewrite that history.

Regulatory News

Trump Administration’s Bank Plan Heralds End of Crisis Era – Wall Street Journal (subscription)

The Trump administration’s new plan for bank oversight is raising industry expectations that a postcrisis era of heightened regulation is over.

Wall Street Veteran Leads Search for Next Fed Chief – Wall Street Journal (subscription)

The White House is set to launch its search for the next Federal Reserve chief, according to a senior official, and it will be managed by Gary Cohn, the former Wall Street executive who some market strategists believe could be a candidate for the post himself.

Supreme Court Casts Doubts on a Potent SEC Weapon – The New York Times

The Securities and Exchange Commission routinely seeks an order in an enforcement action to require a defendant to repay any ill-gotten gains, a remedy called disgorgement.

EU Looks to Simplify Reporting – Markets Media

The European Commission has a long-term aim of simplifying reporting by setting out standard requirements in one document, rather than in separate regulations.

Tech Challenges Loom as Europe Eyes London’s Clearinghouses – Waters Technology (subscription)

New EU rules suggest London-based clearinghouses may be forced to relocate to the eurozone.

Bundesbank’s Weidmann Warns of Digital Currency Risks – Financial Times (subscription)

Germany’s top central banker has warned of the dangers from digital currencies, saying that their creation could worsen financial crises.

Company News

State Street FX Platforms Get MTF Approval – Profit & Loss

State Street says it has received approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate its FX Connect and Currenex platforms as multi-lateral trading facilities (MTFs) for foreign exchange within the jurisdiction of MiFID II.

LMAX Expands US Presence – Profit & Loss

LMAX Exchange (Lmax) has appointed Matt DellaRocca to the newly created position of liquidity manager for the Americas.

Regulation Primary Driver for Growth at LSE: Investor Update – FOW (subscription)

The group’s clearing house LCH saw revenues rise due to clearing obligations.

Broadridge and Spence Johnson Join Forces – FX Week (subscription)

The strategic alliance enables asset managers to analyse retail and institutional data together.

Dutch Speed-Trader Turns to Currencies After Conquering ETFs – Bloomberg

Flow Traders wants to colonize markets with its approach to trading, but its core business is coming under attack.

‘We’re in Production’: Bank Execs on the State of Play for Blockchain – American Banker

As banks begin to explore the promises of the blockchain – from reducing operational costs to verifying digital identities – much of the industry is eagerly awaiting a flashy debut.

IBM Launches Watson for Financial Regulation – Wall Street Journal (subscription)

International Business Machines formally launched a Watson product for financial regulation, rolling out artificial-intelligence tools to help financial institutions comply with rules and detect possible financial crimes.

Market Savvy

Mexican Peso Just Hit a 10-Month High – Bloomberg

The Mexican peso is riding a wave of emerging-market optimism to trade at levels last seen when Donald Trump was a longshot to win the presidency.

Canadian Dollar Maintains Momentum Against Greenback – Financial Times (subscription)

The Canadian dollar continued to strengthen against its US counterpart during Asia trade after comments earlier this week from central bank officials suggested a rate rise later this year.

Crown Retreats on Rate Setter Comment, Investors Eye Fed – Reuters

The Czech crown retreated from multi-year highs after Czech central bank (CNB) Vice-Governor Vladimir Tomsik said its strength allows the bank not to rush into interest rate hikes.