Baton Systems Integrates DTCC’s FICC and NSCC with Core-Collateral Network Ahead of SEC Mandate

Baton Systems has announced the integration of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) and National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) with its Core-Collateral network. This development provides Baton’s clients with direct access to FICC as they prepare for the SEC’s U.S. Treasury clearing mandate, which will come into effect on 31 December 2026 for cash transactions and 30 June 2027 for repo transactions.

The integration allows clients to streamline collateral management for US Treasuries cleared through FICC, offering real-time balance updates, eligibility schedules, and efficient instruction of asset movements. Baton’s solution enhances access and control, supports collateral optimisation, and facilitates compliance with upcoming regulatory changes. The first client is now live, managing collateral at FICC through the Core-Collateral network.

Trading Technologies Launches TT Strategy Studio for Multi-Asset Algorithmic Trading

Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT) has launched TT Strategy Studio, a multi-asset algorithmic trading platform aimed at institutional trading firms, including quantitative firms, hedge funds, and energy companies. Announced during TradeTech Europe 2025 in Paris, the solution is part of TT Quantitative Trading Solutions (QTS) and is designed to allow firms to build, test, and deploy automated trading strategies while maintaining control over their proprietary code.

TT Strategy Studio supports data integration from a wide range of market sources across equities, options, futures, and foreign exchange. It offers back-testing capabilities, real-time monitoring, and compliance tools, enabling users to simulate and evaluate strategies across different market conditions. The software is certified for use on 70 global marketplaces, ensuring regulatory compliance. TT QTS staff also use the platform to develop proprietary algorithms and assist clients in strategy development and validation.

Instinet Rebrands RFQ Venue to “BlockMatch Select” to Expand Liquidity Access

Instinet, the global agency-only broker, has rebranded its BlockMatch RFQ venue as “BlockMatch Select”, in response to growing buy-side demand for improved access to liquidity. This change marks a strategic update in Instinet’s multilateral trading facility (MTF), which will now comprise three trading books: BlockMatch Dark, BlockMatch Select, and BlockMatch NT.

BlockMatch Select aims to enhance bilateral liquidity optimisation and streamline trading workflows. It offers automated access to a broad range of market participants and liquidity sources. Key features include seamless integration via Instinet’s execution platform, a configurable modular workflow for tailored liquidity targeting, and a regulated, transparent environment for risk and liquidity management. This update reinforces Instinet’s role as a key liquidity aggregator in electronic trading.

Options Technology Relaunches Integrated Desktop as AtlasWorkplace for Buy-Side IT Solutions

Options Technology has announced the relaunch of its Integrated Desktop product under a new brand, AtlasWorkplace, aimed at serving Hedge Funds, Private Equity firms, Asset Managers, and other financial services organisations. AtlasWorkplace is designed to provide a secure, scalable IT infrastructure that meets the unique operational needs of buy-side firms.

The platform combines managed services with personalised support, offering a complete Office and Desktop technology suite that includes Microsoft 365 integration and centralised identity management. It supports remote working, cloud and server environments (private, public, and hybrid), and includes 24/7 security monitoring and compliance support. Additionally, AtlasWorkplace incorporates AI capabilities, such as hosted large language models, Microsoft Copilot, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) tools, along with strategic services like Virtual CTO/CISO roles and cloud migrations.

Wealthsimple Adopts Eventus’ Validus Platform for Trade Surveillance

Wealthsimple, one of Canada’s fastest growing financial platforms, has deployed the Validus platform from Eventus, the trade surveillance and financial risk solutions provider, to conduct trade surveillance across asset classes. Wealthsimple manages over $50 billion in assets and serves more than three million clients, spanning trading, saving, and investing services.

The firm continues to expand its global footprint, recently securing trade surveillance, algorithmic monitoring and market risk mandates from a broad spectrum of market participants across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. Eventus also plans to roll out a suite of enhancements to Validus in 2025, including a new AI-driven initiative built on large language model (LLM) technology.

Kafi Securities Goes Live on Horizon Trading Platform to Drive Market Expansion in Vietnam

Horizon Trading Solutions, the electronic trading solutions and algorithmic technology provider, has announced that Kafi Securities Corporation, a financial services company based in Vietnam, has gone live on its trading platform. The deployment supports Kafi’s strategic goal of expanding into market making and advanced trading across the Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi Stock Exchanges.

Horizon’s platform, deployed on-premise and integrated with Kafi’s internal systems, provides Kafi with real-time access to Vietnamese markets, supporting its trading operations with tools for quoting, execution, hedging, and risk monitoring. Starting with market making for Warrants, Kafi now plans to extend its activity to ETF market making.

SimCorp Launches Next-Gen Axioma Equity Factor Risk Model with Enhanced Market Volatility Detection

SimCorp, the investment management solutions vendor, has unveiled a new version of its Axioma Worldwide Equity Factor Risk Model, aiming to help portfolio and risk managers better manage market volatility. The updated model integrates proprietary research and academic insights to improve risk identification, offering faster detection of market shifts and stock group rotations. A notable addition is the Non-linear Residual Factor, which uses machine learning to uncover complex factor interactions, enhancing understanding of residual risk.

The model supports a range of portfolio strategies, such as improving Momentum portfolios, enhancing Minimum Variance strategies, and mitigating risks in Value portfolios through sentiment integration. It includes both fundamental and statistical models across various time horizons, accessible via the Axioma Risk platform or as a flat file. This flexibility supports integration into portfolio construction and risk management workflows, helping managers adapt to changing market conditions.

CDS Implements Clearing Technology Upgrade to Modernise Post-Trade Infrastructure

The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited (CDS), a subsidiary of TMX Group, has completed a major upgrade to its clearing and settlement technology as part of its Post Trade Modernisation (PTM) initiative. The changes replace legacy systems used for clearing, settlement, depository services, and entitlement payments.

The upgrade is powered by TCS BaNCS for Market Infrastructure, a high-performance platform developed by Tata Consultancy Services. The implementation marks a significant step in enhancing the resilience and scalability of Canada’s capital markets infrastructure, according to John McKenzie, CEO, TMX Group, who commented: “Post trade modernisation represents a game-changer for Canada’s equities, fixed income and OTC clearinghouse and a key milestone in the evolution of TMX. The launch of the new platform advances our core technology capability and ultimately strengthens Canada’s ability to compete for global investment. TMX’s investment in clearing technology also delivers on our enterprise wide commitment to ensuring these critical systems are efficient, resilient and adaptive.”

The new system is also designed to support recent initiatives, including the Canadian Collateral Management Service, introduced in 2024.

BMLL Technologies Partners with Revelate to Expand Global Data Delivery Capabilities

BMLL Technologies has announced a collaboration with Revelate to enhance the delivery of its data products to capital markets participants worldwide. The partnership leverages Revelate’s platform to streamline and automate the distribution of BMLL’s US options and global Level 3 equities data, aiming to increase accessibility and efficiency for end users.

The integration complements BMLL’s current data delivery channels, including API, Snowflake, and Flat File, by adding support for multiple access options such as SFTP, S3, Azure, and API. Through this collaboration, BMLL strengthens its ability to serve institutional clients with more flexible and rapid data delivery, aligning with its strategy to continuously improve access to its extensive historical data and analytics offerings.

Phillip Nova Expands Integral Partnership to Boost NDF and FX Swap Trading

Singapore-based brokerage firm Phillip Nova is deepening its collaboration with Integral, the currency technology provider, to enhance its trading capabilities in non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) and FX swaps. The move comes in response to rising demand for NDFs in the Asia-Pacific region, where cleared daily volumes have exceeded $65 billion and open interest has crossed $2 trillion as of September 2024.

The expanded partnership enables Phillip Nova to leverage Integral’s fixed-fee subscription model, helping the brokerage to reduce operational costs, manage cost volatility, and scale its services efficiently. This builds on their initial deployment of Integral’s FX trading solution in 2021, which supported the firm’s FX spot and contract for difference (CFD) trading growth.