FX technology arms race: the battle for market share

Seismic shifts in the foreign exchange industry as a result of the credit crisis has opened up the competitive playing field to rivals willing to invest in technology.

The technology arms race is gathering pace, as the foreign exchange industry enters a period of recovery and IT budgets rebound, bringing a shift in the winners and losers of foreign exchange dealing.

Before the outbreak of the credit crisis, there appeared an unstoppable set of top foreign exchange providers, with their key differentiator being operational efficiency. But as markets scaled back and risk appetite shrank, a pool of second-tier dealers have piled in to capture a growing share of the market. Central to their strategy is the intelligent use of technology to improve liquidity, risk management, trade processing and, in turn, pricing to customers.

In this video, sponsored by WallStreet Systems, the roundtable participants will explore the ways this can be achieved, and how the FX trading landscape is being redefined to offer new opportunities for dealers.

Panellists will discuss the challenges of implementing a successful electronic commerce strategy that reduces risk and costs, while ensuring profitability and market share. They will look at the necessary infrastructure on the front to back end of the business and also discuss the differing challenges for the Tier I versus the smaller banks.

The roundtable discussion is hosted by Incisive Media managing director, and former Risk magazine editor Matthew Crabbe. Panellists include:

Jeremy Hill, head of foreign exchange & money market operations, RBS Global Banking & Markets

Ralph Silva, director & broadcast analyst, Silva Research

Stéphane Malrait, managing director and global head of e-commerce, Societe Generale

Mike Thrower, director, banking business development, Wall Street Systems