Financial Times FT.com

Forex bankers alarmed by clearing plans

By Jennifer Hughes in London and Joanna Chung in New York and Tom Braithwaite in Washington

Published: November 18 2009 20:13 | Last updated: November 19 2009 00:19

Foreign exchange bankers reacted with alarm on Wednesday to proposals from Barney Frank, the powerful chairman of the House financial services committee, that would require trades in currency derivatives to be processed through a centralised clearing system.

Bankers said the proposals would introduce new systemic risks into the financial system and that the sheer size of the market would dwarf the risk that could be sustained by any clearing house.

Barney Frank

Barney Frank: chair of House financial services committee

You have viewed your allowance of free articles. If you wish to view more, click the button below.

Read this