TradingTech Insight Brief
AXA Selects SimCorp One to Enhance Global Investment Oversight and Risk Management
SimCorp has announced that AXA will implement the SimCorp One platform along with its Business Services to strengthen investment monitoring and financial risk management across AXA’s global insurance operations. The platform will provide AXA’s teams with a real-time, consolidated view of positions across entities, reducing operational friction and enabling scalable investment oversight.
SimCorp One is designed to meet key challenges in the insurance sector, including complex regulatory demands and the need for integrated technology supporting both public and private market strategies. AXA will benefit from continuous platform updates, advanced data management, and SimCorp’s expertise in the insurance industry. The Axioma analytics suite, part of SimCorp One, will further support AXA in optimising portfolio risk exposure. Additionally, SimCorp’s Business Services will ensure consistent data delivery and asset servicing across all of AXA’s investments.
CLS Launches Redesigned CLSClearedFX with LCH ForexClear as First CCP Participant
CLS has announced the launch of its redesigned CLSClearedFX service, with LCH ForexClear becoming the first central counterparty (CCP) to go live. CLSClearedFX is a payment-versus-payment settlement service that enables CCPs and their clearing members to reduce settlement risk for cleared FX and derivative trades.
The updated service builds on CLS’s existing CLSSettlement platform, allowing CCPs to directly submit bilateral settlement instructions on behalf of members. This integration provides operational efficiencies, enhanced risk mitigation, and improved liquidity through a consolidated settlement model. LCH ForexClear’s successful transition means its cleared deliverable FX contracts are now settled within the main CLSSettlement session, removing the need for separate workflows and funding streams, thus lowering overall settlement costs.
UBS and LSEG Form Long-Term Partnership to Advance Data and Analytics Capabilities
UBS Group AG and the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) have entered a multi-year strategic partnership that will see UBS implement LSEG’s full range of data and analytics solutions across its global operations. The agreement is aligned with UBS’s broader strategic growth plans and integration objectives, aiming to generate cost synergies and boost operational efficiency.
Through the consolidation of data infrastructure and improvements in data governance, cataloguing, and access, UBS will strengthen its ability to respond to changing client needs. The partnership also provides UBS with access to LSEG Workspace’s next-generation features, including AI-powered modelling tools, cloud-native analytics, and integration with Microsoft platforms. These tools are expected to enhance innovation and data-driven decision-making throughout the bank’s operations.
Canton Network Expands On-Chain Collateral Initiative with Leading Liquidity Providers
The Canton Network has announced the inclusion of B2C2, Cumberland DRW, FalconX, and GSR as new design partners in its on-chain collateral initiative for bilateral derivatives. These firms join existing partners Flowdesk and QCP to support the development of an application designed to streamline collateral and margin management. Scheduled to launch in Q3, the application will be open to all OTC bilateral derivatives traders.
The collaboration aims to address inefficiencies in the crypto derivatives market by offering a cost-effective alternative to current over-collateralised and tri-party agent models. Using the Canton Network’s privacy-preserving architecture, the solution will enable automated smart contract-based collateral agreements compliant with ISDA CSA standards. Key features include real-time data sharing among transaction parties, instant tokenised collateral pledging, and 24/7 margining capabilities, offering improved operational efficiency, risk reduction, and support for novel collateral types.
Bloomberg to Integrate CME Group’s EBS Market FX Data into BFIX Benchmarks
Bloomberg Index Services Limited (BISL) has announced an agreement with CME Group to incorporate EBS Market’s Spot FX transactions into its Bloomberg FX Fixings (BFIX) benchmarks. This move aims to enhance the precision and efficiency of BFIX by including transaction data, thereby reducing risk and improving the ability of market participants to match the fixings.
The integration of EBS Market data supports BFIX’s commitment to providing reliable, representative and transparent foreign exchange benchmarks. BISL will initiate a market consultation later in 2025 to collect feedback on the proposed changes, with implementation expected in early 2026. BFIX currently covers over 1,300 spot currency pairs and 3,950 forward and non-deliverable forward (NDF) fixings, and is aligned with UK BMR compliance and IOSCO principles, supporting various financial applications including portfolio benchmarking and derivatives valuation.
Wedbush Securities Launches 24-Hour Trading via Strategic ATS Partnerships
Wedbush Securities has introduced 24-hour trading capabilities, allowing clients to access U.S. and OTC markets throughout all trading sessions. This new offering is powered by partnerships with Blue Ocean Technologies and OTC Markets Group, enabling seamless trading during overnight, pre-market, core, and post-market hours. The initiative particularly supports investors in Asia-Pacific regions, aligning with their local trading times.
The service integrates three alternative trading systems – Blue Ocean ATS, MOON ATS, and OTC Overnight – to provide comprehensive overnight access from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM Eastern Time. Blue Ocean ATS and MOON ATS facilitate trading in U.S.-listed securities, while OTC Overnight extends access to OTC equities. The platform supports both high- and low-touch routing and includes expert execution services across all hours.
Northern Trust to Trial Carbon Credit Tokenisation in Australia’s Project Acacia
Northern Trust will participate in Australia’s Project Acacia to test the interoperability of tokenised carbon credit transactions with traditional bank payments. The bank plans to demonstrate the simultaneous settlement of a carbon credit token transfer and a conventional payment using its blockchain-based Northern Trust Carbon Ecosystem. This simulation will be conducted in collaboration with Swift.
Project Acacia is led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) to explore various forms of tokenised money and assets, including wholesale CBDCs, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins. Northern Trust’s involvement underscores its ongoing commitment to digital finance initiatives, having previously contributed to blockchain projects in Singapore and Hong Kong. The firm is also a founding shareholder in Zodia Custody and manages $17 trillion in assets under custody.
Panmure Liberum and Nedbank CIB Form Strategic Equity Capital Markets Partnership
Panmure Liberum and Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) have announced a strategic partnership focused on equity capital markets. This collaboration unites two leading investment banks from the UK and South Africa, enhancing their collective capabilities in equity research, corporate advisory, and trading across their respective regions. The agreement will deliver co-branded research covering both markets and support dual-listed companies in the UK and South Africa.
The trading arrangement enhances access to capital across South African and Pan European markets. Panmure Liberum will act as Nedbank CIB’s preferred execution partner for UK and European equities, aligning with new South African regulations that expand overseas investment options for asset managers. In return, Nedbank CIB will handle execution for Panmure Liberum’s South African equities. This partnership follows Panmure Liberum’s similar ventures in Asia and Australia, supporting its strategy to expand global reach and investor access.
Standard Chartered Launches Institutional Crypto Trading Platform with Spot Bitcoin and Ether Services
Standard Chartered has introduced a fully integrated digital assets trading service for institutional clients, marking a significant step in its digital finance offerings. Following the earlier launch of its custody service, the bank now offers spot trading for Bitcoin (XBT/USD) and Ether (XET/USD) via its UK branch, with non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) trading to be added soon. This makes it the first globally systemically important bank to provide deliverable spot cryptoasset trading to institutional investors, corporates, and asset managers.
The service is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing FX platforms, enabling clients to trade digital assets through familiar systems while choosing their preferred custody solution, including Standard Chartered’s own. As a UK FCA-registered cryptoasset service provider, the bank offers clients the reliability of a regulated institution with strong risk controls and a robust financial base. This launch expands Standard Chartered’s digital asset capabilities across trading, custody, and tokenisation.
SDX and Banque Pictet Complete Pilot Tokenising Corporate Bonds for Asset Management Portfolios
SDX, part of SIX, and Banque Pictet & Cie SA have completed a joint pilot project that successfully tokenised corporate debt instruments and allocated fractional amounts to portfolios managed by Pictet Asset Management SA. The initiative focused on EUR- and CHF-denominated corporate bonds, which were held in custody at SIX SIS and tokenised on the SDX platform. These tokenised bonds were then distributed in fractional units to investor portfolios, allowing for greater customisation and operational efficiency than traditional methods.
The pilot demonstrates the practical benefits of digital securities in mutual fund management, such as automated rebalancing, smaller investment sizes, and enhanced diversification. By enabling tailored strategies and broader access to asset classes like corporate bonds, the collaboration highlights the potential of tokenisation to transform the asset management industry through scalable, flexible digital infrastructure.