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.

ISS STOXX ESG Data Integrated by DekaBank

DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale (Deka) has incorporated ISS STOXX’s ESG data into its systems for use by the German organisation’s asset management, fund administration and treasury management divisions.

Deka is the central asset manager of the German Savings Bank and will utilise IS STOXX’s climate data, corporate and country ratings, SDG scores and regulatory solutions, including its Taxonomy and SFDR/PAI data.

SimCorp Updates Axioma Model to Tackle Increased Market Gyrations

SimCorp has sought to better prepare clients for increased market volatility with an update to its Axioma Worldwide Equity Factor Risk Model, which is designed to help managers identify risks in their portfolios.

Among its improvements is the introduction of a Non-Linear Residual Factor, which uses machine learning to identify hidden factor correlations that can’t be detected by standard, linear models.

RecordPoint, OCG to Jointly Pursue Growth in Financial Services

Data management and governance services firm RecordPoint will work with advisory Oceanic Consulting Group (OCG) as it grows its business within the financial services sector.

Together, RecordPoint and OCG will “help institutions build stronger data foundations and future-proof their governance frameworks in an increasingly complex landscape”, they said in a statement.

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.