FIA cancels Boca event due to coronavirus

Trade body FIA has cancelled one of its main conferences, in Boca Raton Florida, due to Coronavirus, the latest industry event to fall foul of the epidemic.

The Washington DC-based trade association said in a statement on Tuesday: “It is with great disappointment that FIA has decided to cancel its 45^th Annual Boca International Futures Industry Conference on March 10-12 due to concerns for the health and wellbeing of our conference attendees surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.”

The trade body said it had made the decision “after discussions with FIA’s board of directors this morning as well as with key stakeholders in the industry”.

Pressure has built on the FIA to cancel the conference over recent days as its members, which include the world’s top banks and exchange groups, have imposed travel restrictions on employees.

The trade body said in its statement: “Many of FIA’s members have implemented non-essential travel restrictions that make it difficult for panelists, speakers and participants to attend the conference, including key stakeholders within investment banks, asset management firms, exchanges, clearing houses and regulators.” FIA concluded: “We can now focus on ensuring our markets remain open to manage the volatility surrounding these events--and importantly, on the health of the people critical to keeping these markets working.”

FIA Boca is only the latest industry event to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the virus.

The Japan Exchange Group cancelled on February 14 all public events due to the outbreak of the virus.

Also in February, the London Metal Exchange cancelled a dinner and postponed a seminar due to take place in Hong Kong in May.