FXCM (NYSE:FXCM), released today an update on its business as well as a statement from Chief Executive Officer, Drew Niv, on FXCM’s month-to-date metrics along with the firm’s current plans to pay down its debt. Richard Handler, Chief Executive Officer, and Brian Friedman, President of Leucadia also commented.
Strong Operating Metrics
Through Thursday, January 22, FXCM’s month-to-date retail customer trading volume, which includes all retail FX and CFD volume, is $406 billion* with 30% coming from the last 5 days alone, which included a U.S. bank holiday. Average retail customer trading volume per day during this period is $27 billion. *As of January 22, tradable accounts were 224,547, and client equity was $1 billion.
“A week after the unprecedented movement of the Swiss Franc, and our financing agreement with Leucadia, FXCM continues to operate in the normal course of business. All of our entities have capital in excess of regulatory requirements. As our month-to-date metrics show, FXCM continues to be a global leader in retail FX with volumes on pace to set a record. We are especially thankful for our customers’ loyalty and support,” said Drew Niv CEO of FXCM.
Niv continued, “The financing we received from Leucadia has strengthened our balance sheet and gives us the opportunity to grow our core business while reducing our debt through the sale of non-core assets. We anticipate that the proceeds from these sales and continued earnings, we can meet both near and long term obligations of our financing, while preserving the strength of our franchise.”
Richard Handler
Richard B. Handler, Chief Executive Officer, and Brian P. Friedman, President of Leucadia, commented: “We view FXCM as our next opportunity to work with an investee company to create long-term value for all stakeholders, including FXCM’s dedicated employees and customers. We look forward to assisting Drew Niv and his team to develop the liquidity opportunities to repay last week’s emergency financing and then, as the long-term investors we are, to exercising the patience and diligence needed to maximize the value of FXCM over time as we strive to do for every investment in our portfolio, many of which we have held for the long term, and, in some cases, for over a decade.”
*Amount excludes volume generated by clients with negative balances following the Swiss National Bank’s decision to abandon the maximum exchange rate of 1.2 Swiss Francs per Euro.
FXCM’s latest volume chart shown above. According to the business update provided by CEO Drew Niv today, January is on pace for potential records. Should business trends hold up for the trading industry, this could ease concerns of investors weary of the terms of the emergency financing provided last week.
To view the official press release from FXCM, click here.