The Sell-Side Execution Management Insight Report is free to read for qualified, to request your copy click on the download button

Download Report

London – 9 March 2023: Senior executives managing execution desks across the sell-side back a regulatory response to halt the increase in market data fees, the latest Acuiti Sell-Side Execution Management Insight Report has found.

The report, which is based upon a quarterly survey of the Acuiti Sell-Side Execution Expert Network, a group of senior executives from across the globe, found that 47% of the network thought that market data costs were “far too high”, with the remainder saying that they were too high.

Around half of respondents said that they frequently found it difficult to forecast market data costs while over half said that the cost of market data had somewhat or significantly limited entry into new markets.

Members of the Expert Network favoured a regulatory response to the rising costs, with 58% backing a requirement for venues to submit to regulators the costs involved in producing market data and then imposing mandatory limits on mark-ups.

54% called for a simplification of licenses to end the need to audit firms on usage, while half said that contracts should be standardized across the industry.

The calls come in the wake of recent increases in market data fees levied by exchanges and other trading venues. Fees for market data were widely introduced in the wake of lower volumes in the early 2010s as central banks support for markets reduced volatility.

Since then, exchanges have pursed aggressive acquisition strategies in the field of market data and increased the cost and complexity of fee schedules offered to clients.

The Q1 Sell-Side Management Insight Report also includes a deep-dive on innovation in sell-side execution, produced in partnership with Horizon Software.

Members of the Expert Network pointed to the development of algorithms and increased use of artificial intelligence as the two key areas that they expected to bring new efficiencies to the market.

For many execution desks, focus on algo functions is turning beyond market impact, where product development is already mature. Members of the network are increasingly interested in algos that drive operational and administrative efficiency —  being applied to functions that can bunch or cancel and replace orders, where manual intervention is still widespread.

However, there is currently significant room for improvement in optimization across the sell-side. According to the latest survey, pricing, pre-trade risk, real-time P&L and post-trade were areas in which levels of automation and optimization currently need improvement.

Members of the network reported challenges in securing budgets for investment in optimization while at the same time expressing concerns over wholesale system replacement.

“Members of the Acuiti Sell-Side Execution Expert Network are seeking cost-effective ways of increasing optimization and automation without the risk, cost and complexity of a large scale overhaul of their technology infrastructure,” says Ross Lancaster, Head of Research at Acuiti.

“Less than a fifth of the network said that their currently technology infrastructure made it easy to bring new products and services to market quickly, while a strong majority favoured incremental investments in technology over wholesale replacement.”

Sylvain Thieullent, CEO of Horizon Software, commented, “The findings of the Acuiti Sell-Side Execution Management Insight Report highlight the increasing challenges facing sell-side firms in managing market data costs and improving automation and optimization. We are pleased to collaborate with Acuiti in developing solutions that help our clients navigate these challenges and improve their execution performance.”

Other findings in this report include:

  • 2022 was a very strong year for execution desks as volatility gripped global markets
  • Executives expect the most opportunity in metals and commodities during 2023
  • Cost bases increased in 2022 but executives are targeting headcount reduction in 2023

 

Download full report here: Download Report

 

For more information, contact Nastja Konic at Acuiti

Tel.: +44 (0) 203 998 9190

Email: nastjakonic@acuiti.io

About Acuiti

Acuiti is a management intelligence platform designed to provide Senior Industry Professionals in the Derivatives Industry with high-value insight into industry-wide performance and business operations. Acuiti provides a platform through which our exclusive network of Senior Industry Executives can share and source information on day-to-day operational challenges, providing them and their management teams with increased transparency and in-depth analysis to make more informed decisions and benchmark company performance. Financial Institutions benefiting from our services include Banks, Non-bank FCMs, Brokers, Proprietary Trading Firms, Hedge Funds and Asset Managers.

About Horizon Sofware

Horizon has been empowering capital market players for over two decades by building powerful algorithmic technology into its electronic trading platform and offering trading opportunities through direct connectivity to more than 80 exchanges worldwide. Horizon enables clients to quickly create, test and implement automated trading strategies in real-time, in line with its ‘Trade Your Way’ philosophy. Its platform can be easily integrated with rich APIs and allows proprietary strategies to be built while keeping traders’ code confidential. Horizon is also a Certified B Corporation verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

More information: https://www.hsoftware.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Horizon 's Newsletter!

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on our latest news!