Discriminatory Pricing of Over-The-Counter Derivatives

Management Science, 2021, Vol. 67(11), 6660-6677
with Peter Hoffmann, Sam Langfield and Yannick Timmer

Abstract

For the first time, new regulatory data allow precise measurement of price discrimination against non-financial clients in the FX derivatives market. Consistent with the theoretical literature, transaction costs vary systematically with measures of client sophistication. The median client pays 10.9 pips more than blue-chip companies due to its lower level of sophistication, which compares with a sample average effective spread of 6.9 pips. However, price discrimination is fully eliminated when clients trade electronically on multi-dealer platforms. We also document that less sophisticated clients incur additional costs when trading with their relationship bank and in fast-moving markets, but only for bilaterally negotiated contracts.

Additional Files

This research is based on regulatory data which cannot be shared publicly.

Media Coverage

Two articles related to this research appeared in the Financial Times on May 16, 2019,  and on June 16, 2019, respectively:

Big banks to fight Mifid push for extra transparency in FX markets

Banks accused of ‘systematic’ gouging of small customers on FX

The second article discusses our research results extensively.