Is foreign exchange the new sub-prime?

Corporate FX losses are already running into billions. The problem, as the dollar’s rally continues, could be endemic.

In mid October, the Mexican central bank was forced to auction over $8 billion of dollar-denominated debt. The market immediately took the action as an intervention to shore up the peso. That didn’t even tell half of the story.

The action was prompted by the collapse of Mexican grocery chain Comercial Mexicana. It had, according to central bank governor Guillermo Ortiz, been acting like a hedge fund, trading volatility options with international investment banks. The central bank had been forced to intervene to facilitate an orderly unwind of the trades.

Unfortunately this was not an isolated incident.

Access intelligence that drives action

To unlock this research, enter your email to log in or enquire about access