How’s GBP swaption at banks for HF exit

Hey guys, I was curious about the GBP swaption desks at BB SnT, if given I want to pursue the macro pm track for MM HFs in the future.

I’ve heard GBP swaption is very illiquid and I was hence wondering how’s the outlook of this desk. If it comes to the exit for MM HFs, is this desk good? Is this product traded by HFs?

I’ve heard EUR and USD swaption are better. Is this true?

Thanks in advance!

16 Comments
 

There's different types of hedge fund seats. Hedge funds are looking for bank traders that have skills that fit what they need for that kind of strategy. If you want me be a 'macro' pm that parses the Fed's words very carefully and thinks about the implications of Trump, probably you want to be on spot FX/treasuries/vanilla swaps something like that. If you go to a GBP swaption desk, you could exit to a hedge fund trading vol RV (ex: buy a cheap swaption, sell an expensive swaption as a pair). There are many funds/seats that trade vol RV.

Vol trading is a lot more quantitative and niche as opposed to big picture like macro. If being quantitative isn't naturally your talent, I would avoid rates vol desks.

 

Hey mate, appreciate the insights! That’s rlly helpful. I actually come from a top uni with a maths & stats degree with high GPA so I would tend to believe that the quantitative nature of vol isn’t a large problem (otherwise wouldn’t get the vol seat lol)

I kinda think the macro theme would also matter a lot for swaptions right? Cuz the underlying was still rates. Maybe what u mean is to trade rates vol is more quantitative and less macro oriented compared to liner rates and rates/bond rv?

Another reason I raised this question is that I also get the opportunity to trade GBP inflation which seems an excellent flow product and know loads of MM PMs start with inflation. Also known that there r more linear pods compared to vol pods across the market so I’m not sure if going for linear would be better for long term HF opportunity. Especially given the fact that the swaption seat was GBP which isn’t flowy compared to USD. If it’s a flow vol desk I’ll probably just go for vol.

What do you think between the two options? Thanks in advance!

 
Most Helpful

Aliquam laborum ut dolore nulla nesciunt quia tenetur. Amet tempore dolores quidem. Ut nihil sequi repellendus.

In debitis aut et rerum qui culpa aut. Et veniam et sint. Numquam quia sint illo dolores. Voluptatem qui dolore ab aliquid voluptas eius eligendi.

Hic voluptatem ipsum numquam libero occaecati in. Nobis reiciendis id dolor dignissimos aspernatur quisquam eum. Quos culpa quam numquam cum distinctio sed numquam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Millennium Partners 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $191
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”