What a difference a year makes. Last year the trading industry including FX was mired in a record multi-year volatility and volume slump with currencies and broader markets at a bit of a standstill, digesting the ever-evolving macroeconomic landscape. This summer has seen much improved volatility due to rumors of impending Fed tightening and the Greece saga continuing to cause uncertainty surrounding the Euro.
Last week, retail brokers across the industry were careful heading into the Greek referendum lowering leverage, including EXNESS, eToro, FxPro and others. Moreover, the recent volatility also has produced a healthy volume bump in June with many venues and brokers reporting last week 10% to 30% month-over-month increases from May, with Tokyo Exchange Click365 leading the way with volume up 38.3% in June.
A huge acquisition took place last week as well when we learned that Playtech plc, the publicly listed software development company founded by Teddy Sagi continued it’s FX acquisition spree, buying AvaTrade for $105 million. What is next for the billionaire? Stay tuned to LeapRate this week as volumes continue to trickle in and the industry heats up for the summer.
Be sure to check out last week’s featured stories as well as a complete run down of the week below:
– What do IBs really want? – The Forex Industry Talk Show
– Forex Club launches renewed platform Libertex
– Navigating the imminent volatility storm – Guest Editorial by Jeff Wilkins, MD, ThinkLiquidity
– – Windsor Brokers 2014 Disclosure Report shows capital of $46 million
– Playtech continues FX acquisition spree, buying AvaTrade for $105 million
– OctaFX broadens UK presence, signs sponsorship deal with Southampton FC
– Taiwan Futures Exchange to launch RMB Forex futures
Weekly Forex Industry Rundown for June 29th – July 5th
June Volumes
– Hotspot FX average daily volumes at $25.7 billion in June, down 4% from May
– Tokyo Exchange Click365 FX volume up 38.3% in June
– Interactive Brokers sees further trading activity drop in June, DARTs down 3%
– CME Group announces record volume day in corn futures
– CME Group reports 12.1% increase in FX volumes in June
– Forex volumes at Moscow Exchange surge 32% M/M in June
– Monex Group global Forex volumes rise 22.4% in June to $42.1B
– GMO Click sees OTC Forex volumes jump 26% MoM in June 2015
– ICAP’s EBS daily volumes rise 5% MoM in June 2015
Interviews/Features
– View from within: How will FX companies avoid a second “Black Thursday” if Greece exits EU? – LeapRate Investigates
– Platform diversity today! TV interview with Gold-i CEO Tom Higgins
– The world is shrinking: Forex Industry Talk Show
– One man’s innovative journey: Tom Higgins details Gold-i’s leading edge vision
Warnings/Fines/Fraud Watch
– Georgia man pleads guilty to running Forex trading ponzi scheme – LeapRate Fraud Watch
– Rickshaw driver discovers bag of cash, uncovers Indian FX scam
– Troubled broker Forex Trend tries to move clients to new company FT2
– The full Force of the law! Undercover DEA agent Carl Force pleads guilty in Bitcoin theft case
– CySEC prolongs suspension of CommexFX license
– Russia’s CRFIN blacklists Delston Capital Group for misleading profit claims
– Cypriot regulator warns of unauthorized binary options broker TradersKing
Legal
– CFTC issues proposed rule on cross-border margin
– Russia’s Duma establishes Expert Board on OTC financial instruments
– ayondo announces client money insurance of up to £500,000 and no negative balance obligation
– Angry Muscovite suing Russian Central Bank for Ruble decline!
– CySec issues €168,000 administrative fine to Teddy Sagi’s Safecap Investments
– ASIC provides update on Interactive Brokers Forex offering
– Commerzbank sued by former director over allegations of “boys club” environment within FX hedge fund division
– FSCS still checking whether LQD Markets’ clients are eligible for compensation
Financial
– Dukascopy reports 2014 Revenues of CHF 27 million, down 10% from 2013
– SafeCharge updates on re-domicile of company’s incorporation to Guernsey
– Greek Forex broker AAAFX issues statement on EU situation
– RVD Markets updates clients on return of funds
– BGC Partners provides update on its Q2 2015 forecast
– Allianz Global Investors raises stake in IG Group above 5%
– GAIN Capital CEO Glenn Stevens converts options and sells $454,995 worth of shares
– FxPro UK sees revenues drop in 2014, but manages to cut expenses
– KVB Kunlun shares collapsing after CITIC Securities offer expires
Executive Moves
– Sucden Financial appoints former Credit Lyonnais executive Michael Donovan as Senior Cocoa Broker
– Derivatives advisory firm Riverside Risk Advisors expands team by hiring former Metlife executive Jason Leinwand
– FastMatch boosts sales team, hiring David Jones from EBS and Mark O’Neill from FIXI
– ICE Data Services names Lynn Martin President and COO
– Jenny Knott joins ICAP as CEO Post Trade Risk and Information Services
Retail Offerings/Services
– O-Systems releases upgraded binary options platform with emphasis on ergonomics
– RoboForex stops offering of 15 currency pairs due to low liquidity
– Plus500 trading update: 13,499 Plus500 UK customers now able to trade, deposit and withdraw funds
– GMO Click postpones launch of upgraded FX Neo
– OANDA Japan terminates offer of USD/CNY, USD/TWD
– IC Markets relocates cTrader server hosting to NY4 in New York
– FXCM’s DailyFX.com undergoes complete revamp to offer unique user experience
– SpotOption launches Spot+ Binary Options platform solution
– Vested, a new communications agency for financial industry launches
– FXtradeweb now operating under FCA UK authorization
– Vantage FX offers News Terminal to its clients
Institutional Offerings/Services
– Quod Financial becomes an Independent Software Vendor on Warsaw Stock Exchange
– China Construction Bank and Euroclear sign MoU to foster offshore RMB growth
– BTIG Prime Brokerage adds Pershing as a global custodian and clearing broker
– Singapore firm SDiX to launch world’s 1st electronic exchange for diamond market
– SGX Rupee contracts report record smashing June numbers
– INTL FCStone to consolidate its 3 U.S. subsidiaries
– ICE Futures Europe sets up Brent index oversight committee; licenses ICIS BFOE market data
Bitcoin/Cryptocurrency
– Bitcoin exchange Kraken opens in Canada with Vogogo
– Westpac invests in US bitcoin start-up Coinbase
– The modern day Enigma: Bitcoin entrepreneurs and MIT invent means of data sharing with total privacy