Network Structure and Pricing in the FX Market

77 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2020 Last revised: 9 Sep 2020

See all articles by Joel Hasbrouck

Joel Hasbrouck

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance

Richard M. Levich

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: January 17, 2020

Abstract

For a foreign exchange settlement network we construct profit attributions and relate them to centrality. Our sample (from CLS Bank) spans diverse currency pairs, participants, and execution platforms. For each settlement we define the average centrality differential as the return to the more-central counterparty in the trade, and model this as a function of the two counterparties’ centralities. Estimates of this differential are generally positive, implying that the more-central counterparty realizes a higher return. Additionally, the differential generally increases as the counterparties’ centralities diverge. These two results are consistent with a pervasive centrality premium. The estimates are robust to the choice of pre- or post-settlement benchmarks, to inclusion of settlement size interactions, and to weighting the degree centralities by number or value of settlements. Across currency pairs the centrality profit varies considerably, and typically amounts to about one-third of bid-ask half-spread. The centrality premium is consistent with the hypothesis that central agents exercise bargaining power. We also find, however, evidence suggesting that the premium is at least partially offset by losses that central agents incur in supplying liquidity.

Keywords: foreign exchange, CLS Bank, centrality, settlement

JEL Classification: F31, G12, G15, G23

Suggested Citation

Hasbrouck, Joel and Levich, Richard M., Network Structure and Pricing in the FX Market (January 17, 2020). NYU Stern School of Business, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3521531 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3521531

Joel Hasbrouck (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance ( email )

44 West 4th Street
MEC Suite 9-190, Mail Code 0268
New York, NY 10012-1126
United States
212-998-0310 (Phone)
212-995-4233 (Fax)

Richard M. Levich

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance ( email )

Stern School of Business
44 West 4th Street
New York, NY 10012-1126
United States
212-998-0422 (Phone)
212-995-4256 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
481
Abstract Views
2,404
Rank
108,962
PlumX Metrics