Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the **FX swap market** and its dynamics, particularly the **FX-Sofr basis** and its implications for global liquidity and investment strategies. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Changing Global Liquidity Outlook** - Global central banks are diverging in their balance sheet management, impacting liquidity. The Federal Reserve has ceased quantitative tightening and is increasing its balance sheet through bill purchases, while the Bank of England and Bank of Japan are reducing their pace of QT. The European Central Bank is committed to passive QT for the foreseeable future, affecting the FX swap market [1][4][7]. 2. **Decline of US Dollar Premium** - The US dollar premium in the FX swap market, measured by the FX-Sofr basis, has declined in recent years, indicating a shift in demand dynamics [2][15]. 3. **Record High FX Swap Turnover** - Daily average OTC FX swap turnover reached a record high of **USD 4.0 trillion** in April 2025, with the US dollar accounting for **USD 3.6 trillion** of this turnover, reflecting its dominance in the market [3][19][20]. 4. **Market Participants and Their Roles** - Key participants in the FX swap market include banks, dealers, institutional investors, and central banks. Banks and dealers accounted for **80%** of daily turnover, while institutional investors contributed **USD 349 billion** [27][28]. 5. **Drivers of FX-Sofr Basis** - Six main drivers of the FX-Sofr basis were identified: - Institutional investors seeking FX hedges - Regulatory requirements impacting banks' balance sheets - US bank reserves influenced by monetary policy - Bank treasuries managing liquidity needs - Reserve managers' cash deposits - Central bank US dollar swap lines providing liquidity support [4][34]. 6. **Institutional Investor Behavior** - Euro area institutional investors increased their holdings of non-euro area debt securities from **€2.6 trillion** in December 2022 to **€3.1 trillion** in September 2025, primarily driven by US securities [43]. 7. **Regulatory Impact on FX-Sofr Basis** - Basel III regulations have increased capital requirements for banks, leading to window dressing activities that typically widen the FX-Sofr basis around key reporting dates [61][66]. 8. **Central Bank Liquidity Swap Lines** - Central bank USD liquidity swap lines help alleviate strains in cross-currency funding markets, reducing widening pressures on the FX-Sofr basis during periods of increased USD demand [101][103]. Additional Important Insights - **Market Liquidity Trends** - The FX swap market is characterized by a high concentration of turnover at the very front-end of the curve, with **68%** of turnover occurring for maturities of up to seven days [29]. - **Arbitrage Opportunities** - Dealers may exploit arbitrage opportunities between different repo markets, which can influence the FX-Sofr basis depending on the relative costs of borrowing in USD versus EUR [88][90]. - **Impact of US Bank Reserves** - Changes in US bank reserves can significantly impact the availability of USD funding, with a surplus putting tightening pressure on the FX-Sofr basis and a shortage leading to widening pressure [75][76]. - **Japanese Institutional Investor Trends** - Japanese institutional investors show weak appetite for FX-hedged foreign bond investments, primarily due to a negative JPY FX-Sofr basis [48]. - **UK Institutional Investor Behavior** - UK insurance and pension funds have seen a decline in holdings of non-UK debt securities, reflecting a cautious approach amid rising yields [53][56]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, providing insights into the FX swap market's dynamics, participant behaviors, and the broader implications for global liquidity and investment strategies.

Core Insights - The 2025 Triennial Central Bank Survey indicates a significant increase in trading activity in FX and OTC interest rate derivatives markets, with FX trading reaching $9.6 trillion per day, up 28% from 2022, and OTC interest rate derivatives increasing 59% to $7.9 trillion daily [1][2]. FX Market Overview - The US dollar remains the most-traded currency, involved in 89% of all FX trades, followed by the euro at 28.9% and the Japanese yen at 16.8%. The share of sterling decreased to 10.2% [3]. - FX swaps are the most traded instrument, with average daily turnover rising to $4 trillion, a 5% increase from April 2022. FX spot trading increased by 42%, while outright forwards rose by 60%, with their shares in global turnover reaching 31% and 19% respectively [3]. OTC Interest Rate Derivatives - Average daily turnover of euro-denominated contracts nearly doubled to $3.0 trillion, accounting for 38% of the global total, while US dollar contracts increased by 7% to $2.4 trillion, leading to a decline in the international share of US dollar contracts to 31% [4]. - In contrast, the market for exchange-traded derivatives shows US dollar contracts holding 65% of global turnover, with significant increases in turnover for sterling and Japanese yen derivatives, surging by 179% and 684% respectively [5]. Trading Centers - FX trading remains concentrated in major financial centers, with the UK, US, Singapore, and Hong Kong SAR accounting for 75% of overall foreign exchange trading [5]. - The UK is the most important FX trading location, maintaining a 38% share of total turnover, while for interest rate derivatives, the UK and US together hold 73% of the market [6][7].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Long" position on 3-year Chinese Government Bonds (CGB) in anticipation of dovish policy tailwinds from the People's Bank of China (PBoC) [2][28]. Core Insights - Chinese corporates are lagging in de-dollarization efforts, with a notable increase in net USD selling by exporters in May, but this was primarily due to reduced outright USD buying rather than increased selling [3][11]. - The PBoC's fixing strategy has shown a more measured pace in the recent decline of CNY FX compared to previous sharp DXY weakness, indicating a preference for FX stability [4][20]. - Structural demand for foreign assets by Chinese investors is driven by a search for yield amid a domestic shortage of investable assets, leading to a shift in interest towards less liquid bonds [28][30]. Summary by Sections Current Trade Recommendations - Long 3-year CGB (FX-hedged) initiated on March 7, 2025, with a current yield of 1.39% and a profit of +14 basis points [2]. CNY FX and De-dollarization - The recent decline in CNY FX aligns with the PBoC's fixing strategy, but the pace has been more controlled compared to past episodes of DXY weakness [3][4]. - Chinese corporates sold approximately $17 billion in USD in May, a significant increase from $6 billion in April, but still below seasonal expectations [11][7]. - The net FX settlement ratio showed only a marginal improvement, indicating a lack of urgency among corporates to convert USD [11][13]. FX Swaps and Liquidity - Corporates have increasingly utilized FX swaps to access CNY funding without losing the USD carry, reflecting a strategic shift in managing currency exposure [11][16]. - Onshore USD liquidity has become excessively flush, with interbank USD rates falling, making CNY financing via FX swaps more expensive than direct borrowing [11][19]. Market Conditions and PBoC Actions - Proactive liquidity injections from the PBoC have alleviated funding concerns for banks, supporting a favorable environment for front-end CGBs [28][30]. - The PBoC has reiterated its commitment to enhancing monetary policy support and maintaining ample liquidity, which is expected to continue influencing market conditions positively [28][30].