(Amends story after SocGen corrects its statement that it mademarkets only in gold)By Peter HobsonLONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - The London Bullion MarketAssociation (LBMA) said Societe Generale had resignedas a market maker for gold and silver, as France's third-largestbank pushes ahead with a downsizing of its commodities business.SocGen said this month it would cut 1,600 jobs to boostprofits after poor performance last year and exitover-the-counter commodities trading. SocGen declined to comment on its resignation.
In over-the-counter trading deals are done bilaterallybetween 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 includingJPMorgan , HSBC and BNP Paribas .
(Reporting by Peter Hobson; editing by Veronica Brown and DaleHudson)
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