FIF/SIFMA LTID Phase 3 Working Group -  Discussed potential options to comply with LTID Phase III’s requirements to prepare for future meetings with the SEC Staff. Analyzed initial alternatives. FIF CAT Tech Spec Working Group - FIF began reviewing sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the CAT Industry Member Reporting Scenarios Document.  During the review, FIF members discussed the application of the scenarios, and elicited additional use cases, questions, and requests for further guidance that will be distributed to ThesysCAT and the SROs.  As a reminder, as...

FIF will be presenting on an STA Open Call on Tuesday, December 11th at 4:30 pm ET on amended SEC Rule(s) 605 and 606.  To register, please click here.

Nasdaq announced it has acquired Quandl, Inc., a provider of alternative and core financial data. Quandl provides alternative data and core financial data from over 350 sources to more than 30,000 active monthly users. The company offers a global database of alternative, financial and public data, including information on capital markets, energy, shipping, healthcare, education, demography, economics and society. Nasdaq plans to combine Quandl with its existing Analytics Hub business within Global Information Services. Founded in Toronto in 2012, Quandl is used by eight of the top ten hedge...

Cboe FX Markets announced that UBS has agreed to act as a Central Credit Intermediary for eligible counterparties on Cboe FX; who might have limited bilateral credit relationships, enabling them to access a wider pool of liquidity. Small and mid-sized banks, or financial institutions that might have limited bilateral credit, can leverage UBS as a Spot FX Intermediary to alleviate this hurdle – settling all trades exclusively with UBS. Eligible counterparties can gain exposure to a greater number of Cboe FX participants despite the absence of direct credit relationships, aided by the...

Nasdaq announced that it launched a Corporate Bond exchange for listing and trading of corporate bonds. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved this exchange on November 13, 2018. PepsiCo claimed the inaugural listing on November 27 when it announced it will transfer the securities exchange listing for four separate senior notes due between 2021 and 2028. This new exchange will run on the Nasdaq Stock Market license and will be powered by the Nasdaq Financial Framework, Nasdaq’s market infrastructure technology platform. Surveillance will be conducted by...

ABN Amro has started clearing Eurex foreign exchange (FX) futures and options for its clients, according to a story in The Trade news. The move means that ABN Amro Clearing can now provide support for classic FX derivatives contracts with monthly and quarterly expiries, as well as rolling spot futures, which are now live on the exchange. ABN Amro Clearing support extends to clients trading in the exchange order book in Europe, and makers and takers trading listed FX and OTC FX on Deutsche Börse’s 360T platform.

ION has announced that Fidessa’s futures and options trading platform was named Sell-side Trading System of the Year for the seventh consecutive year at the FOW International Awards. After meeting the challenges and requirements introduced by MiFID II in January, Fidessa continued enhancing their platform throughout the year. They extended its workflow automation capabilities and developed powerful new execution and transaction cost analysis (TCA) features to help meet the increasing economic and regulatory demands of today’s markets. They also delivered an updated risk module...

FIF Front Office Committee Meeting -  Focused on order management and trading system issues resulting from proposed rule changes (SEC, FINRA, SROs) and other initiatives impacting exchange traded equities and options, and OTC transactions. Find this month's agenda here. FIF CAT Tech Spec Working Group - FIF reviewed identified issues that will directly impact member firms implemenation of CAT.  We focused on reducing the content of these items to allow ThesysCAT to focus on those questions that may directly impede CAT implemenation.  FIF sumbitted a list of...

FIF is pleased to announce that S3 has rejoined the Financial Information Forum Community.