The technology giant is sitting on $135 billion in foreign exchange derivatives, some of which are used to hedge against currency fluctuations across its many markets. Alphabet Inc. has about another $60 billion of these contracts. In comparison, the world’s currency-focused hedge funds manage just $78 billion – combined.
And those bankers are delivering. Companies have become the bread and butter of currency divisions, bringing not just consistent business but fatter margins. Revenue in corporate currency business at the world’s five biggest banks has jumped about 30% in the past five years, according to data firm Vali Analytics. For the top 50 banks, it’s now accounts on average for more than half of all currency revenue.
The other driving force has been the decline in currency volatility. That crucial juice for the market waned during the period of ultra-low interest rates and quantitative easing, and many investors just quit the market. The number of FX-focused hedge funds has dwindled 82% from its all-time high in 2007.When the biggest US banks begin to report third-quarter earnings on Friday, Wall Street giants like Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
“That’s definitely our edge,” said Lynley Ashby, Citigroup’s global head of FX business strategy. “Having people on the ground has given us those touch points not just with central treasuries but also the subsidiaries.” If the new world of currency trading looks more staid, it hasn’t quite killed off its legacy of controversy.
But whatever the market and economic cycles, companies typically have mandates to hedge a certain portion of their currency exposure. That’s creating a cushion for bank trading desks as their old business has slowly dwindled. This year, systematic orders from corporate clients have remained resilient despite the broader pullback from FX markets.
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