By Peter Hobson
LONDON (Reuters) - The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) said Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) had resigned as a market maker for gold and silver, as France's third-largest bank pushes ahead with a downsizing of its commodities business.
SocGen said this month it would cut 1,600 jobs to boost profits after poor performance last year and will exit over-the-counter commodities trading.
SocGen declined to comment.
In over-the-counter trading deals are done bilaterally between banks and brokers rather than on a financial exchange. London is the world's largest over-the-counter gold trading hub, overseen by the LBMA.
Market makers commit to provide liquidity to the market. SocGen's exit leaves 12 LBMA market making banks including JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM), HSBC and BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP).
