14 Comments
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ES's avatar

Great write up.

Apart from the recent CME tools, how do you monitor the xccy basis if you don’t have a Bloomberg?

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AlphaPicks's avatar

Good qu...if you have Reuters/Refinitiv access they have it, but aside from that CME tools is the only free tool we've seen.

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ES's avatar

CME should expand into other currency pairs. Next step should be JPY if they offer the TONAR futs.

https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-group-cross-currency-basis-watch.html

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Markets Zoon's avatar

This is a super article! Thank you for sharing

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mudchute fox's avatar

great primer. i'm learning as much as i can in all FX and rates related topics. other arguments i'de be interest in (and love to read about from you) are RePo markets (players, role in carry trades, data tools)

PS. CME tool seems to have stopped working (gives wrong basis values)

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AlphaPicks's avatar

Perfect timing. A repo primer is in the works. Will be released this weekend (if all goes to plan).

Will chat to CME about the issue.

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mudchute fox's avatar

awesome news will be waiting for it when ready!

Thanks for the CME tool btw

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Jeremy Waikwa's avatar

Great article! best primer i've read on XCCY. Really enjoyed reading this one

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lcapital's avatar

Never seen a more detailed explanation. Excellent.

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AlphaPicks's avatar

Thank you for the kind words.

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Chase Bradley's avatar

One of the clearest explanations of the cross-currency basis I’ve seen.

Especially liked how you tied the basis to deeper structural forces — not just rates and funding, but also herd behavior, regulatory pressure, and macro liquidity shifts.

Mastering this really does feel like understanding the hidden architecture of global finance.

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Jesse Williamson's avatar

great work

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BSN's avatar
Jun 7Edited

small correction (great primer otherwise!)- below should be Rec EUR/USD basis if expected to widen (become more negative) rel to GBP/USD

"Specifically, if you expect the EUR/USD basis to widen further (i.e., become more negative) relative to GBP/USD, you would pay the EUR/USD basis and receive the GBP/USD basis".

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AlphaPicks's avatar

Good spot sir!

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