Nicola Tavendale

Do FX algos need the human touch?

May 2026 in Industry Views

Algos may well have firmly established their place as the FX market’s leading execution tool, with upwards of 90% of daily volumes now being handled by algos in certain firms, according to a recent report by Crisil Coalition Greenwich. Yet while algos offer increasingly sophisticated strategies to automate order execution, the human element persists as a fundamental differentiator in ensuring optimised outcomes. How then can buyside firms find an effective balance between the power of algo technology and the insights offered by both the trader and algo provider alike? Nicola Tavendale investigates.

It is now very easy for algos to be considered a ‘cure-all’ for effective FX execution, but understanding the role of human input in this process is actually one of the most important considerations when looking at how to optimise algo use, says Preston Mesick, Global Head of FX Algos at Barclays. He adds that is very useful for end customers to understand this balance and what to expect, which he notes can vary dramatically based on a variety of It is now very easy for algos to be considered a ‘cure-all’ for effective FX execution, but understanding the role of human input in this process is actually one of the most important considerations when looking at how to optimise algo use, says Preston Mesick, Global Head of FX Algos at Barclays. He adds that is very useful for end customers to understand this balance and what to expect, which he notes can vary dramatically based on a variety of

It is now very easy for algos to be considered a ‘cure-all’ for effective FX execution, but understanding the role of human input in this process is actually one of the most important considerations when looking at how to optimise algo use, says Preston Mesick, Global Head of FX Algos at Barclays. He adds that is very useful for end customers to understand this balance and what to expect, which he notes can vary dramatically based on a variety of

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