CLS Group Posts Uptick in March FX Volumes as Markets Remain Active

CLS Group, a major foreign exchange settlement provider, reported positive growth in trading activities in March across all offered Forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term instruments. The company posted an average daily traded volume of $1.977 trillion for the month, which is 1.8 percent higher than February’s numbers.

The increase in the demand can be seen across forward, swap and spot FX markets where the company is operating. The demand for FX swaps leapt to the highest last month with around a 3 percent jump to $1.377 trillion from February’s $1.353 trillion. It was even higher than what the company recorded in March 2020 when the entire financial market saw extreme volatility due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, the forward and spot FX market both increased by 2 percent to $0.117 trillion and $0.483, respectively. However, the overall monthly figures remained lower than what the FX settlement provider reported a year ago.

Following the Industry Trend

“In the first quarter of 2021, we witnessed record average daily traded volumes of USD1.95 trillion, demonstrating a consistent increase of FX market activity year-on-year,” said Keith Tippell, CLS’s Global Head of Product. “This was despite a 10% decrease in overall volumes in the month of March 2021 compared to the record highs in March 2020, driven by the extreme market Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders Read this Term relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Further, Tippell elaborated that a significant portion of the FX demand was generated by two currency pairs, USD/JPY and USD/HKD, as both recorded a monthly uptick of 15 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the company is expanding its industry footprint with more and more partnerships. In the past few months, Capitolis and BGC Group tapped CLS to enhance their FX services.