In choppy FX markets, algos buck expectations

Algorithmic execution of spot foreign exchange has increased as the spreading coronavirus has roiled markets in recent weeks – a surprise considering algo usage was widely tipped to decline in choppier trading conditions.

“We’ve seen an enormous pick-up in the use of algos in recent weeks,” says Ralf Donner, head of fixed income, currencies and commodities execution solutions at Goldman Sachs. He puts the increase at around 50%.

Clients that use FX algos take the execution risk of the