Members of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), including the Bundesbank, have renewed their Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code. The Code aims to promote a robust, fair, liquid, open and appropriately transparent foreign exchange market. It was revised and expanded in July 2021 in order to keep it relevant and aligned with the ongoing evolution of the foreign exchange market.

In a press release, the ECB writes “With these Statements of Commitment, the members of the ESCB emphasise that the principles of the Code are important in ensuring the continued integrity and effective functioning of the foreign exchange market.” It also states “This demonstrates their strong commitment to adhere to its principles when acting as foreign exchange market participants, to align their internal practices and processes with its updated principles, and to support and promote adherence to the Code.”

Global expertise

The foreign exchange (forex) market ranks among the largest and most liquid markets worldwide, and before the Global Code was published activities there were largely coloured by regional trading customs (market practices). In an effort to bring these practices into greater alignment worldwide and safeguard the integrity and effective functioning of the forex market, in May 2015 the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) initiated work on the Foreign Exchange Global Code of Conduct. The BIS entrusted the task of drawing up the Global Code to the Foreign Exchange Working Group, a body composed of senior officials responsible for market operations at 16 central banks from the 15 largest currency areas, including experts from the Eurosystem. 

Published for the first time on 25 May 2017, this Global Code created a set of guidelines to apply in multiple jurisdictions around the globe with the involvement of central banks and private sector market participants from all the major currency areas. It pools expertise from the public sector, which was represented by central banks and monetary authorities, and from the private sector, thanks to the input from commercial banks, trading platform providers and industrial enterprises. Interaction between the two sides was intense, judging by how the Global Code has evolved since the first part was completed and published in May 2016. In the intervening period, market participants have been sent regular updates for review and feedback. “By drawing up this Global Code, central banks around the world together with the market participants have taken on board the lessons from the financial crisis. The Bundesbank sees these guidelines as a crucial contribution to safeguarding sound business practices in what is a core segment of financial markets,” said Bundesbank Executive Board member Joachim Wuermeling upon the Global Code’s publication.

Code made up of 55 principles

In detail, the Global Code is made up of a series of principles which are intended to promote a robust, fair, liquid, open and appropriately transparent foreign exchange market worldwide. It defines 55 principles covering the areas of ethics, governance, execution, information sharing, risk management and compliance, and confirmation and settlement processes with a view to establishing appropriate and comparable standards of behaviour around the world. Furthermore, the Global Code offers practical examples of high standards of behaviour which market participants should strive to emulate in certain situations. It includes proposals on price discovery and pricing and provides illustrative examples of both acceptable and unacceptable practices (see the example in the box below). The Global Code does not, however, take the place of banking regulation, nor does it impose any legal obligations on market participants. The Bundesbank gears its trading operations towards the requirements formulated in the Code and expects its counterparties to do likewise, after a suitable implementation period.

Evolving over time

The Code should also continue to be adjusted and revised at regular intervals after the update of July 2021, so as to keep pace with market and sectoral developments and remain a relevant source of guidance and best practices. Responsibility for maintaining and updating the Global Code lies with the Global Foreign Exchange Committee (GFXC). This body also comprises the ESCB, which will contribute to continually improving this set of guidelines for international forex trading operations.