When EuromoneyFXNews asks one of the world’s largest real-money investors what the three most important characteristics are in an ideal execution counterparty, the fund manager replies: “Pricing, pricing and pricing.”

Figures from the Swiss National Bank (SNB) show its FX reserves climbed higher in June as it battled to keep the SFr1.20 floor in EURCHF intact.

The development of the RMB as an international currency continues, as Singapore Exchange (SGX) announces it is ready to list, quote, trade, clear and settle securities denominated in the Chinese currency.

When EuromoneyFXNews asks one of the world’s largest real-money investors what the three most important characteristics are in an ideal execution counterparty, the fund manager replies: “Pricing, pricing and pricing.”

Oanda, the leading retail FX broker that last month halted trading on the Sunday of the Greek election result, has decided to make the move permanent.

Some believe further quantitative easing from the Bank of England will undermine sterling’s newfound haven status, but flow data from the Bank of New York Mellon suggests that ship has already set sail in the second quarter.

The renminbi is likely to weaken as Chinese corporates pay back their offshore foreign-currency liabilities.

National Australia Bank has appointed a former BNP Paribas strategy head as its co-head of FX strategy.

FX exchange to relaunch offering; Faces growing competition

So the vision of a fiscal union is being slowly backed into via a nascent banking union, thereby lightening the mood in financial markets. How durably?

FXall, the largest multi-dealer FX trading platform (MDP), this week launched its FX options service via an integrated API with its spot, forwards and non-deliverable forwards marketplace, and the first FX exchange to provide full product coverage on one platform.

Citi Private Bank (CPB) has hired a former BNP Paribas salesman for its Swiss operation.

Emerging market (EM) currency index returns bounced back in June as fears over the turmoil wrought by a break-up of the euro receded, according to data from an independent index provider.

Denmark’s central bank has announced that it foreign currency reserves rose to record levels as it fought to preserve the krone’s peg against the EUR in June.

Trading volumes remained healthy on the CME in June as activity remained elevated after eurozone debt tensions resurfaced.

Gain Capital, the owner of one of the world’s leading retail FX providers, believes its purchase of online futures broker Open E Cry (OEC) from optionsXpress, a subsidiary of Charles Schwab, will help it meet increasing demand for exchange-traded products.

The head of emerging markets FX spot and forwards at the Royal Bank of Scotland has left the bank, according to two people familiar with the situation.

FXall, the number one multi-dealer FX platform, has today officially started offering request-for-quote prices (RFQ) for currency options on its trading platform, the company said in a statement.

Speculators on the CME extended their net short positions in the EUR ahead of the EU summit meeting last week.

Figures from the IMF show global reserve managers kept the proportion of EUR in their portfolios stable in the first quarter.

Monex Group, the Mexican FX group, has bought Schneider Foreign Exchange in a cash deal that values the London-based currency specialist at about $100 million.

Retail FX volumes last month hit their highest levels since October 2011, as the resurfacing of tensions in the eurozone brought individual investors back to the currency markets, according to LeapRate, the online forex analysis firm.

A Stamford-based options trader and a London-based G10 spot trader at Royal Bank of Scotland have resigned from the bank, according to people familiar with the matter.

The head of Asia emerging markets (EM) FX trading at Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has left the bank, according to people familiar with the matter.

The 15th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China will include a series of measures to boost offshore renminbi, marking the next stage in the development of the CNH market, according to Asiamoney, a sister publication of EuromoneyFXNews.

Two new sets of buzz words have entered the lexicon of the FX market in recent times: cloud-based solutions and transaction cost analysis (TCA). Portware, the software vendor to the financial markets, is now introducing these new and improved features to its FX platform.

It has been a tough few years for currency managers, no less so for Record Currency Management, one of the pioneers of this sector.

Alpari UK, one of the leading retail FX providers, has announced a senior management shake-up as it prepares to float.

If you are looking for the near-term direction of the euro, you are better off asking a German toolmaker than a Mayfair hedge fund manager.

Amid the flurry of announcements of new FX trading venues in recent weeks, there are two more that deserve a mention.