LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - JP Morgan has put itschief currency dealer in London, Richard Usher, on leave, asource familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
This mirrors developments at Standard Chartered,which has also put one of its senior FX traders on leave,according to a source familiar with the matter. Matt Gardinerjoined StanChart from Swiss bank UBS only last month.
Usher, head of spot G10 currency trading, joined JP Morganfrom Royal Bank of Scotland in May 2010. He remains afull-time employee at JP Morgan and has not been suspended. Buthe hasn't been at his desk for around two weeks, the sourcesaid.
Usher could not be reached for comment, and JP Morgandeclined to comment.
JP Morgan is one of several banks cooperating with theFinancial Conduct Authority in Britain and other regulatorsaround the world looking into allegations of currencymanipulation in the $5.3 trillion-a-day global market.
It was unclear whether JP Morgan's decision to put Usher onleave had anything to do with this investigation.
Usher is still listed as "active" on the UK FinancialConduct Authority's register, and is listed as one of the 13members of the Bank of England's Joint Standing Committee'schief dealers group at the end of last year.
The Bank of England declined to comment, however, on whetherhe was still on that committee.
Royal Bank of Scotland said on Wednesday it hadsought to reassure clients about the foreign exchange rates theywere being offered and rival Barclays said it wascooperating regulators scrutinising the market.