Options Trader Kreiger Leaving Bankers Trust

Andrew Kreiger, one of the most influential currency options traders in the business and a vice president of Bankers Trust Co., has resigned for what the company termed personal reasons.

“He told us he wants to pursue other personal and professional interests,” said a Bankers Trust spokesman. Kreiger could not be reached for comment on his decision to leave Bankers Trust.

Foreign exchange market analysts said Kreiger had a reputation for making big trades in a market that handles billions of dollars in transactions daily.

“Traders consider him one of the major participants in the currency options market,” said Chris Bourdain of BankAmerica.

Options on currencies, Kreiger’s specialty, are highly leveraged instruments that allow traders to buy and sell large amounts of currencies with little money down. They tend to be even more volatile than the currencies themselves.

Bankers Trust, one of the most aggressive banks in foreign exchange, has realized large gains from its currency trading operations. It earned $337.7 million in the fourth quarter, up from $71.3 million in the third quarter.