HSBC and Citigroup on Friday suspended foreign exchange traders, as a global probe into possible currency market manipulation intensified.
Regulators from the US arrived in London this week, stepping up an investigation in which they are working with Britain’s financial watchdog to determine whether traders at some of the world’s biggest banks colluded to manipulate the US$5.3 trillion-a-day foreign exchange market.
LIBOR
The investigations center on senior traders’ communication of client positions via electronic chatrooms, which featured prominently also in a probe into the rigging of a key interest rate known as the London interbank offered rate, or LIBOR.
As the currency investigation ramps up, the banks themselves are scrutinizing their employees more closely and most are now carrying out internal investigations.
Sources said that Deutsche Bank suspended several traders in New York this week, while US regulators descended on Citigroup’s London offices.
A spokesman for HSBC confirmed the bank had suspended two forex traders in London, but declined further comment.
The two HSBC traders suspended are Serge Sarramegna and Edward Pinto, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said.
The two men could not immediately be reached by telephone or e-mail.
Their positions were not known, although Sarramegna has in the past been head of the G10 spot forex desk. Both are listed as active on the UK regulator’s register of financial services staff.
‘ON LEAVE’
A Citigroup spokesman said two forex traders had been sent “on leave.” One trader works in London, and the other works in New York, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Several traders at several banks have been suspended or sent on leave. Citi last week fired its head of European spot foreign exchange trading, Rohan Ramchandani, following a prolonged period on leave, one source with knowledge of the matter said.
Deutsche Bank, Citi and HSBC are three of the biggest players in the forex market.
Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority began a formal investigation into the currency market in October last year and the US Department of Justice is also investigating possible manipulation.
The FCA is focusing on around 15 banks, whom it has asked for — or required to provide — information about currency trading activities.
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