The French retail foreign exchange market looks set for a boom in activity during the next 12 months, as a wave of new entrants is expected to start trading FX, according to a report published by independent research organization Investment Trends.

The chance of a Greek exit from the euro is on the rise, and so the question for investors has turned from why is the single currency so strong, to how low can it trade and how fast.

The US financial centre would be an ideal offshore renminbi hub, but bellicose political rhetoric against China means it will be unable to take advantage of this opportunity for a long time to come, according to Asiamoney, a sister publication to EuromoneyFXNews.

The best route to navigate the current FX environment involves balancing the twin approach of risk on/risk off with traditional interest-rate differentials, says HSBC, as carry considerations begin to have more influence on exchange rates.

Danish bank Nordea is replacing its emerging market debt hard-currency manager HSBC with US firm Pramerica Investment Management, according to Global Money Management, a sister publication of EuromoneyFXNews.

The run up to the repeat Greek general election on June 17 will intensify the debate about the country’s future in the eurozone – and understanding the ramifications of Greece’s internal politics will be essential in determining the direction of the euro.

Rahul Darbari, a senior foreign exchange options trader in Singapore, and Ragu Santhalingam, a New York-based options trader, have left Standard Chartered, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Emerging markets (EM) central banks are expected to step in to fight weakness in their currencies, as the correction in EM FX markets continues.

HSBC has been voted the best overall renminbi (RMB) products and services provider, as voted by corporate and financial institutions across Asia Pacific in Asiamoney’s inaugural Offshore RMB Survey.

Thanks to international expansion and infrastructure investment, revenue growth prospects at JPMorgan's Treasury and Security Services unit are bright, said Nomura analysts.

An intensification of the eurozone risks, highlighted by the Bank of England (BoE) in its quarterly Inflation Report, could be the catalyst for sterling’s retracement of its recent gains.

An ex-precious metal options trader at Natixis is joining ANZ as an FX options trader in London in a new role, according to Derivatives Intelligence, a sister publication to EuromoneyFXNews.

EURUSD may prove more resilient than investors expect says BCA Research, one of the world’s leading independent providers of global investment research.

Hotspot FX, the multi-dealer platform owned by Knight Capital, is the latest trading venue to post dwindling foreign exchange volumes for April.

Mounting fears of a catastrophic Greek-euro exit has finally caused the range-bound EURUSD to break below 1.30, but despite tension in Europe reaching critical levels, activity in the options market appears relatively dormant.

Gain Capital, the retail and institutional FX broker, has signed up with the technology firm StreamBase to use its groundbreaking StreamBase LiveView – a real-time analytics tool launched this year – to enhance the firm’s liquidity and risk management.

Currency speculators on the CME turned to the dollar, yen and sterling, as concerns over Greece’s fiscal crisis and worries over global growth pushed investors toward safety.

An ex-G10 FX derivative trader at Credit Suisse in Singapore is set to join Citi in a similar role, according to Derivatives Intelligence, a sister publication to EuromoneyFXNews.

SurfacExchange, the US-based multi-dealer option trading platform, has made three senior hires as it seeks to expand its business.

Poland's debt-management official waxes lyrical in an interview with Euromoney about how the country is riding out the eurozone storm, and the sovereign's debt issuance plans

T he €1 billion pension fund of Gasunie, the Netherlands-based gas infrastructure company, terminated ING Investment Management’s currency overlay mandate, according to Global Money Management, a sister publication of EuromoneyFXNews.

Natixis has hired a former UniCredit FX salesman to cover sales to hedge funds and other financial institutions.

China has made a conscious effort to gradually loosen its control of the renminbi during the past few years. And while many global banks are constantly urging their corporate clients to add the renminbi to their list of trade-settlement currencies, they are still reluctant to do so, according to Asiamoney, a sister publication to EuromoneyFXNews.

Deutsche Bank has abandoned the bullish stance on the yen it has held since the onset of the financial crisis in late 2008.

An institutional FX salesperson at Deutsche Bank has left the firm, according to sources who have spoken to EuromoneyFXNews.

The bank has moved five places up the table in the overall rankings and back into the top 10 with its core client group, real-money investors. Guy Kirby, global head of FX sales at State Street, tells EuromoneyFXNews that the firm is continuing to grow its real-money franchise - and also advancing with other client segments – thanks to its focused product offering.

EURUSD has fallen for eight days in a row, and were it to fall again on Thursday, it would be the longest consecutive losing streak in the single currency’s history.

Here are some photos from the 2012 Euromoney FX Awards dinner at The Brewery, where a great time was had by all.

The winners of the Euromoney FX Awards were presented with their trophies at a gala dinner in London on May 9th.

Photos from the 2012 Euromoney FX Awards dinner at The Brewery, where a great time was had by all.