(by G. Finn)

Foreign exchange markets showed record high results at $1,900 billion a day as the traders are more and more interested in assets and hedge funds currency bets.

Financial markets transactions growth sees record highs and well signals of world capital markets integration, specialists say.

This increase follows long-term decline within the introduction of the euro in 2001-2004. Currencies appeared to be a fresh form of investing as investors are really disappointed in by equity returns and low bond yields.

"We’re seeing a lot more participation by investor groups who haven’t actively managed currency risk before. FX is being seen more as an asset class in its own right," said Ian Stannard, currency strategist at BNP Paribas in London.

Higher trading shows foreign exchange to be the biggest single market in the world, specialists add.