Benchmark manipulation and market surveillance

The CFTC has recently revealed the instant messages written by Citigroup traders related to benchmark manipulation. Having recently published a report on Market Surveillance industry trends and soon to publish another one on the leading vendors, this seemed quite relevant. Current surveillance systems, be it for trade or communications surveillance, use the latest technology to capture possible instances of market abuse or manipulation. The capabilities are far beyond what was available a few years ago, and are holistic and comprehensive in nature. But in the end, the system is only as good as the people using it. The recent revelations have put a question mark over not just the traders involved in the benchmark manipulation scandal, but also the management of some of the leading institutions. Some firms are now going to great lengths to monitor their traders, but this is not an end in itself. The industry culture has to be transformed. The next instance of manipulation will not be in the same place and firms would have to overcome the motivation to profit in order to ensure compliance. The rise in the levels of regulation in the last few years probably would play the part of a positive reinforcer in the decision-making process and help influence industry culture, but is not a guarantor of propriety.