Australian Foreign Exchange Committee Meeting Minutes

6 October 2021
Conducted via videoconference

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Attendees

Christopher Kent, RBA (Chair); Guy Debelle, RBA (GFXC Chair); Chris Howlett, ACI Australia; Keith Sedergeren, ACI Australia; Mark McCarthy, AFMA; Andrew Scott, AMP; Luke Marriott, ANZ; Winnie Tan, Bank of China; Sarah Costello, BHP Billiton; David Hatzidis, CBA; Aaron Ng, Citigroup; Lee Merchant, Deutsche Bank; Catherine Rich, Goldman Sachs; Andy Lukas, HSBC; Will Richardson, Macquarie Bank; David Roughley, National Australia Bank; Simon Watkin, NEX; Stuart Simmons, QIC; Gary Latner, Refinitiv; Jeremy Carr, Suncorp; Gareth Taylor, Westpac; Chris Knight, XTX Markets

Apologies

None

Secretariat

Matthew Boge, RBA (Secretary); Jason Griffin, RBA

1. Competition Guidelines

The Chair reminded attendees that the meeting would be conducted in line with the RBA's Competition Law Guidance.

2. Global Foreign Exchange Committee (GFXC) Work Agenda: Last Look Guidance Paper

The Chair of the GFXC discussed the recent publication of the GFXC's guidance paper on Last Look, noting the process had generated much discussion and feedback. The GFXC Chair had reiterated the paper's key conclusions in subsequent speeches and media engagement, that Last Look should be used for no other purpose than the price and validity check and that this check should be applied without any delay. The Chair also noted that the GFXC will continue to monitor industry trends in the use of Last Look going forward.

3. FX Trading Conventions

The AFXC secretary outlined the history of Foreign Exchange and Foreign Currency Options Conventions, which had been published jointly by AFXC/AFMA. In 2015, these conventions had been replaced by an Australian Annex to the ACI Model Code, which had been developed by the AFXC. The scope of that annex was much narrower than the earlier conventions (only covering historic rate rollovers). When the FX Global Code replaced the ACI Model Code in 2017, the AFXC decided that an Australian Annex to the Code was not necessary.

The representative from AFMA noted that they frequently received enquiries about trading conventions in the Australian FX market. Consequently, it was proposed that there was scope for a new conventions document that could be published in an appropriate way, likely on AFMA’s website. The document would cover local conventions around trading dates, opening hours, parcel sizes and other items. Members acknowledged this proposal and the AFXC Chair appointed a small sub-group to draft a set of conventions that could be circulated to AFXC members for review by the end of the year.

Separately, Keith Sedergreen (ACI) updated members on a document soon to be published by the ACI covering best trading practices globally. The ACI Further Guidance document applies principles from the FX Global Code, the UK Money Markets Code, and the Global Precious Metals Code. AFXC members noted care should be taken to ensure this document was not confused with the FX Global Code, nor seen as being an annex to the Code. It was suggested that AFMA could also host the ACI document on its website.

4. Renewing Statements of Commitments and Public Registers

The member from AFMA provided an update on forthcoming changes to the public registers where market participants lodge their Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code. The registers will allow liquidity providers and e-trading platforms to provide links to their Disclosure Cover Sheets. Several members noted the importance of public registers recording both the date of a market participant’s most recent Statement of Commitment and the date on which they first lodged a Statement on a register.

The Chair noted there was an expectation that all AFXC members would renew their Statements of Commitment by end-June 2022. Any members that anticipated difficulties in meeting that deadline were invited to contact the Chair.

5. Next meeting

No date was set, but the Chair noted it was unlikely that another meeting would be held in the current calendar year.