FIS Enhances Cross-Asset Trading and Risk Suite to Level Playing Field for Smaller Firms

FIS has announced significant strategic advancements to its Cross-Asset Trading and Risk Suite, aimed at streamlining operations for investment firms of all sizes. The updated platform integrates order, portfolio, position, and risk management into a single, flexible system. By replacing disconnected legacy systems and manual processes, the suite allows smaller firms to access sophisticated trading tools and cross-asset strategies that were previously the exclusive domain of major global players, according to the company.

The enhancement introduces new SaaS capabilities tailored for alternative investments and expanded support for both public and private market strategies on the buy side. To improve operational efficiency, FIS has implemented digitised dashboards and AI-driven tools designed to optimise the user experience. According to Matt Stauffer, Head of Trading and Asset Services at FIS, these updates are intended to eliminate the barriers created by complex markets and fragmented technology, enabling firms to deploy capital more effectively.

SimCorp Launches Agent Launchpad to Orchestrate AI Ecosystem

SimCorp has unveiled Agent Launchpad, a new agentic AI ecosystem integrated into its SimCorp One platform. Announced at the SimCorp Global Summit in Copenhagen, the tool allows investment managers to deploy and manage AI agents from SimCorp, curated partners, and internal builds. The system is designed to automate complex operational workflows, including portfolio management, risk analysis, and corporate actions, by enabling multiple specialised agents to collaborate within a unified governance framework.

The ecosystem emphasises security and transparency, providing a structured audit trail for every agent interaction to ensure data integrity and human accountability. Fintech firm Orbit has been named the first ecosystem partner, contributing an agent that provides AI-driven research on market fundamentals and regulatory information. To assist with initial adoption, SimCorp is introducing a dedicated prompt library, with the first clients expected to gain access to the Launchpad later this year.

Horizon Trading Solutions Launches FixConnect to Streamline FIX Connectivity

Horizon Trading Solutions has launched Horizon FixConnect, a new connectivity tool developed to accelerate the onboarding of clients and brokers. Built on the high-performance Aeron data infrastructure, the solution enables users to configure FIX connections via a self-service interface within the Horizon Trader Workspace. This integration removes traditional dependencies on IT and operations teams, allowing for more agile management of trading infrastructure.

The platform significantly reduces onboarding timelines from several days to near real-time deployment, according to the company. By eliminating the requirement for system restarts during configuration, FixConnect reduces operational overhead and allows trading desks to adapt instantly to market opportunities. This ensures that institutional and retail brokers can maintain stability while responding to evolving trading requirements.

FixConnect supports 24/7 operations by allowing connectivity adjustments without service disruption. The launch reinforces Horizon’s modular platform strategy, providing a unified environment where clients can manage connectivity, execution, and algorithmic trading seamlessly.

Trading Technologies and Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam Announce Global Connectivity Agreement

Trading Technologies International (TT) and the Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam (MXV) have signed an agreement to enhance MXV’s exchange connectivity services. Under the new collaboration, the global capital markets technology provider will supply the infrastructure necessary for MXV’s trading members and clients to access a wider range of international derivatives markets.

The partnership integrates TT’s high-performance network with MXV’s existing systems, providing streamlined access to major global exchanges including the CME Group, London Metal Exchange (LME), Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and Singapore Exchange (SGX). This initiative aims to improve trading efficiency and bolster the accessibility of international markets for the Vietnamese trading community.

Beyond technical infrastructure, the agreement marks TT’s first local client in Vietnam as part of a strategic Asian expansion. Both organisations have indicated that the partnership may extend into further areas, including market education, capacity building, and training initiatives designed to support the ongoing development of Vietnam’s commodity derivatives market.

HQLAX Secures Strategic Funding from Broadridge and Digital Asset

HQLAX, a digital collateral mobility specialist, has secured strategic minority investments from Broadridge Financial Solutions and Digital Asset as part of its Series C–1 funding round. This capital injection is intended to accelerate the company’s growth and facilitate the ongoing development of its technology platform. As part of the transaction, representatives from both investing firms will join the HQLAX Board of Directors, pending regulatory approval from the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

The partnership focuses on enhancing technical interoperability within securities finance. Key initiatives include a planned migration to the Canton Network and closer collaboration with Broadridge’s Distributed Ledger Repo (DLR) platform. These moves aim to streamline regulated market use cases and improve the mobility of digital collateral across the global repo and securities lending sectors.

By leveraging these new investments, HQLAX continues to expand its ecosystem of bank and market infrastructure partnerships. The firm remains focused on driving the adoption of digital solutions to improve efficiency in global financial markets. All strategic developments and board changes remain subject to standard oversight from the CSSF.

STP Investment Services and CAPIS Partner to Launch Integrated Trading and Operations Model

STP Investment Services and CAPIS have announced a strategic partnership to provide a coordinated outsourced model for buy-side firms. This collaboration integrates CAPIS’ institutional trade execution with STP’s technology-enabled investment operations. The solution is designed to bridge the traditional gap between front-office trading and middle-office support, allowing investment managers to scale their businesses without the need to expand internal headcount.

The partnership focuses on eliminating operational friction by aligning data feeds and file structures. By synchronising system requirements and data fields, the firms enable trading data to flow directly into downstream workflows, reducing the need for manual reconciliation. This integrated approach has already been successfully deployed for a mutual client, resulting in a more scalable operating model and faster processing times across the trade lifecycle.

Under the agreement, CAPIS offers outsourced and supplemental trading across global equities, fixed income, and derivatives, including commission management expertise. Simultaneously, STP provides middle-office solutions through its BluePrint platform, covering reconciliation, settlements, and reporting. This flexible infrastructure allows emerging and established managers to outsource discrete functions or their entire operational suite to enhance efficiency and business continuity.

Avelacom Launches New Stockholm PoP to Optimise Tokyo-London Connectivity

Avelacom, the ultra-low latency connectivity and infrastructure provider, has established a new Point of Presence (PoP) in AWS Stockholm, introducing an alternative route specifically designed to enhance connectivity between cloud trading environments in Tokyo and London. By using Stockholm as a strategic transit point, the new setup provides a more efficient path for institutional traders and prediction market platforms operating across these regions.

The Tokyo–Stockholm segment achieves a round-trip delay (RTD) of approximately 118 milliseconds, setting a new performance benchmark for Asia–Europe data transfers by reducing end-to-end latency between Tokyo and London by up to 10 milliseconds compared to standard connectivity routes, according to the company. Such improvements are targeted at digital asset trading firms that require high-speed access and precise alignment with regional market infrastructure.

This launch addresses the specific technical requirements of crypto-native platforms and high-frequency trading firms. By focusing on infrastructure location and path optimisation, Avelacom aims to provide more reliable and faster access to London-based cloud environments, ensuring that latency-sensitive market participants can maintain a competitive edge in global digital asset markets.

Novata Broadens Sustainability Regulations Monitor

Sustainability management data platform provider Novata expanded its regulatory monitoring service to include a premium tier for tracking global compliance obligations.

The updated engine utilises 30 data points, including revenue and jurisdiction, to identify specific legal requirements for companies and investors. It combines AI monitoring with human expertise to provide clarity on which rules apply to specific organisations.

“Regulatory requirements are no longer just a ‘reporting’ issue; they are a core business risk,” said Caitlin Pentifallo, Novata’s head of regulatory strategy and sustainability.

“We built the Regulatory Navigator to act as an experienced coach for our clients. By combining real-time AI monitoring with our team’s sustainability expertise, we provide the clarity teams need to stop wondering which rules apply and start taking action.”

Mizuho Securities Adopts Behavox for AI-Powered Communications Surveillance

Mizuho Securities has implemented Behavox Quantum AI for communications surveillance, extending monitoring across chat and email in Japanese, English and other languages. The deployment points to strategic advancement from standalone surveillance tools towards more integrated control environments, where communications monitoring sits alongside trade surveillance, data retention and policy management.

At Mizuho Securities, the project appears to be part of a wider compliance build-out. Yutaka Wakabayashi, Chief Compliance Officer at Mizuho Securities, said the firm has made “the development and reinforcement of our compliance framework” a priority and is “actively working to leverage AI technology.” He described Behavox Quantum as “an AI solution that analyzes internal e-communications consistently and comprehensively regardless of channel or language,” adding that Mizuho expects it to strengthen monitoring coverage, reinforce detective controls and support “appropriate and prompt business operations.”

The implementation also suggests that firms assessing surveillance technology are placing as much emphasis on governance and operational fit as on detection capability. Behavox said the deployment followed a selection process that included technical due diligence, model risk review and security review, before going live within three months of the decision to proceed. That timeline indicates a relatively rapid rollout, but one framed around oversight and control expectations for AI adoption in a regulated environment.

Rather than positioning communications surveillance as a discrete compliance function, the architecture described here places it within a broader internal controls framework. In practice, that means linking surveillance outputs to evidence preservation, model governance and risk reduction workflows, with the aim of creating clearer traceability from initial detection through to resolution.

For Behavox, the Mizuho Securities deployment also adds weight to its Japan strategy. Nabeel Ebrahim, Chief Revenue Officer at Behavox, said the go-live shows that “Accountable AI — AI that is governable, auditable, and built to stand up to regulatory scrutiny — is already a reality for Tier 1 institutions today.” He added that the firm remains focused on “delivering integrated controls that protect firms and empower their compliance programmes.”

Behavox has operated in Japan since 2020 and has been building local delivery capabilities, including in-person support, multilingual surveillance coverage and a Japanese-language user interface across its product suite. In that context, the Mizuho Securities implementation is less a simple product deployment than an example of how large financial institutions are looking to embed AI-enabled surveillance into a broader, regulator-aware compliance operating model.

DTCC and CME Secure Approval to Expand U.S. Treasury Cross-Margining for End Users

DTCC and CME Group have received approval from the SEC and CFTC to extend their U.S. Treasury cross-margining arrangement to end-user clients of dually registered broker/dealers and futures commission merchants that are common members of DTCC’s Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) and CME.

The expanded service is due to go live on April 30 and broadens a long-standing house-account arrangement into client accounts. In practice, it will allow eligible end users clearing U.S. Treasury securities through FICC and interest rate futures through CME to offset positions with opposing risk exposures across the two clearing venues. The aim is to reduce margin requirements, release capital and improve liquidity for firms active in cash Treasuries and rates futures.

The extension comes as the US Treasury market adjusts to the practical effects of expanded central clearing requirements, with market participants under pressure to manage collateral, balance sheet usage and operational complexity more efficiently. Against that backdrop, cross-margining is being positioned as a way to soften the funding and margin impact of clearing related Treasury and futures positions through separate infrastructures.

DTCC pointed to the scale of the existing arrangement in proprietary accounts. Frank La Salla, President & CEO at DTCC, said the current model has “a proven track record of creating an average of $1 billion across both clearing houses in risk offsets every day,” and added that “we expect the end-user cross margin effort will lead to additional offsets for the industry.”

CME framed the move in the context of regulatory change in the Treasury market. Terry Duffy, CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “With the SEC’s central clearing mandates now taking effect, cross-margining is essential — not only for operational efficiency, but to help end users manage the real costs of compliance.”

Cross-margining between CME and FICC has been available for proprietary, or house, accounts since 2004, and the firms announced significant enhancements to the arrangement in 2024. This latest step extends comparable treatment to client business, giving clearing members a way to pass margin efficiencies on to end users where positions meet the eligibility criteria.

Under the model, FICC will designate cross-margin accounts so eligible positions can offset against CME interest rate futures. CME Clearing will allow participants to direct futures into end-user cross-margin accounts during the trading day, making those positions available for inclusion in the offset calculation.