European CEO Foreign Exchange Awards, 2009

LONDON - Many consider Foreign Exchange as one of the most important sectors within financial markets, and an unlikely benefactor of the global economic downturn. Remaining as one of the most liquid areas throughout the last few months, it has been interesting to see which companies took the opportunity to improve their services and reap the rewards of the newfound appeal of trading in currencies. European CEO heralds some of the top firms this year, all of whom continue to lead the way through a volatile period.

Best Foreign Exchange Bank - Germany SEB AG Best Foreign Exchange Bank - South Africa Standard Bank Best Foreign Exchange Bank - Canada Bank of Montreal Best Foreign Exchange Bank - France Natixis Best Foreign Exchange House - UK Barclays Capital Best Foreign Exchange House - Mexico Banco de Mexico Best Foreign Exchange Bank - Sweden Handelsbanken Best Foreign Exchange Bank - Korea Korea Exchange Bank Best Foreign Exchange Bank - Middle East Ahli United Bank Best Foreign Exchange Bank - North America Citi Bank

About the Awards

The European CEO awards panel, headed up by editor Heléne Scholl, used a wide range of criteria to access the 2009 awards categories, from their own collective experience of European business practice to reader feedback, the decision over the most pertinent categories to include in the 2009 awards can only be described as exemplary. Criteria for voters to take into account when deciding on the winners includes innovation, originality and quality of product, as well as proof of market development and excellence in client representation.

The panel has been wary to avoid the danger of bias towards criteria such as depth of practice, size of company, international links and reputation, which in so many other industry awards skews the competition in favour of the larger firms with global networks, leaving the excellent work of smaller, nationally based firms and those operating in niche areas, unrecognised. The awards are designed to redress this balance, not to favour the smaller firms, but to publicly recognise that the services they provide are every bit as valuable to their clients as those of their larger counterparts.

For further information on our winners and daily market updates, go to europeanceo.com or europeanceo.tv

Notes for editors:

For further information, go to www.europeanceo.com, for the latest economic and financial commentary from around Europe. Also, see our videos, at www.europeanceo.tv, where some of the latest opinion videos are showcased. European CEO is published by Tower Business Media.

Tower Business Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, enjoying a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of the most prominent and senior decision-makers around the world, as well as comprehensive airport, hotel and conference site distribution.

Source: European CEO

Michael McCaw, michael at wnmedia.com, +44(0020-7-014-0370.