CME Group, and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange Limited (DME), an energy futures and commodities exchange based in the Middle East, announced today that they have successfully completed the migration of DME's contracts to the CME Globex(R) electronic trading platform.
The successful transition enables the world's three crude oil benchmarks - WTI, Brent and Oman - to trade on the same platform alongside CME Group products across all major asset classes. The DME contracts will be accessible for trading beginning 18:00 EST on Sunday, February 1, equivalent to 03:00 Dubai and 07:00 Singapore on Monday, February 2. Clearing will continue to process through the NYMEX clearing house until it is integrated with CME Clearing.
Welcoming the move, Ahmad Sharaf, Chairman, DME, commented, "This migration is not only a strong step forward in the growth of the DME's existing contracts but is also a mark of the success that the DME has achieved in building robust contracts recognized and traded by leading industry participants. The visibility and reach offered by the CME Globex platform will dramatically increase the global exposure of both the DME Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract, and the DME Oman Crude Oil Financial Contract, which also successfully migrated to the CME Globex platform on February 2."
"The transition of DME's contracts to CME Globex further represents the benefits of merging the NYMEX businesses with CME Group, not only increasing the distribution of the contracts to a global set of hedgers and investors, but also opening up new possibilities for arbitrage and other sophisticated trading strategies on a single, virtually 24-hour platform," said Terry Duffy, CME Group Executive Chairman. "These benefits are available to established users of our markets as well as the new participants we welcome along with the DME contracts."
DME CEO Thomas Leaver added, "The DME Crude Oil Futures Contract is recognized as the crude oil benchmark for the East of Suez region, and as such is increasingly used for efficient price risk management as well as affording arbitrage opportunities with the other crude oil pricing regions. This next step in our development will open the contract to a new and diverse set of market participants, and we will continue to work with our core stakeholders, strategic partners, and existing customers and traders to build on this momentum throughout 2009 to identify avenues of growth that will drive the DME to new heights."
Showing posts with label electronic trading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electronic trading. Show all posts
Monday, 2 February 2009
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
MarketAxess Q3 Results
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX) , the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for U.S. and European high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets bonds and other types of fixed-income securities, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.
Total revenues for the third quarter of 2008 increased 2.2% to $22.7 million, compared to $22.2 million for the third quarter of 2007. Pre-tax income for the third quarter of 2008 was $2.1 million, compared to $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2007, a decrease of 42.4%. Net income for the third quarter of 2008 totaled $1.5 million, or $0.04 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $2.4 million, or $0.7 per share on a diluted basis, for the third quarter of 2007.
For the third quarter of 2008, pre-tax margin was 9.3%, compared to 16.4% for the third quarter of 2007.
"Credit market turbulence reached new heights in the third quarter, increasing our focus on innovative solutions to restore secondary market liquidity," said Richard M. McVey, chairman and chief executive officer of MarketAxess. "Our first step was the addition of 21 new dealers to the platform during the past quarter to augment liquidity sources for institutional investors on the system. We are also developing technology and trading solutions to increase the breadth of potential counterparties available to all system participants. While short term results are likely to be uneven, our strong cash flow and balance sheet allow us to make essential investments to improve the functioning of the corporate bond and credit default swap markets."
Third Quarter Results
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2008 increased 2.2% to $22.7 million, compared to $22.2 million for the third quarter of 2007. Commission revenue totaled $17.2 million on total trading volume of $49.0 billion, compared to $19.0 million in commission revenue on total trading volume of $75.7 billion for the third quarter of 2007.
U.S. high-grade corporate bond commissions decreased 10.1% to $10.8 million on trading volume of $27.5 billion for the third quarter of 2008, compared to $12.0 million in commissions on trading volume of $39.9 billion for the third quarter of 2007. U.S. high-grade fixed-rate and floating-rate bond trading volume totaled $24.4 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, compared to $31.2 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively, in the third quarter of 2007. Total U.S. high-grade trading volume includes single-dealer inquiries of $1.4 billion and $2.6 billion for the third quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of 2007, respectively. Effective September 1, 2008, single-dealer inquiry trades are being reported within U.S. high-grade fixed-rate and floating-rate bond trading volume. U.S. high-grade trading volume as a percentage of FINRA's high-grade TRACE trading volume decreased to an estimated 6.4%, compared to an estimated 7.8% for the third quarter of 2007.
Total revenues for the third quarter of 2008 increased 2.2% to $22.7 million, compared to $22.2 million for the third quarter of 2007. Pre-tax income for the third quarter of 2008 was $2.1 million, compared to $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2007, a decrease of 42.4%. Net income for the third quarter of 2008 totaled $1.5 million, or $0.04 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $2.4 million, or $0.7 per share on a diluted basis, for the third quarter of 2007.
For the third quarter of 2008, pre-tax margin was 9.3%, compared to 16.4% for the third quarter of 2007.
"Credit market turbulence reached new heights in the third quarter, increasing our focus on innovative solutions to restore secondary market liquidity," said Richard M. McVey, chairman and chief executive officer of MarketAxess. "Our first step was the addition of 21 new dealers to the platform during the past quarter to augment liquidity sources for institutional investors on the system. We are also developing technology and trading solutions to increase the breadth of potential counterparties available to all system participants. While short term results are likely to be uneven, our strong cash flow and balance sheet allow us to make essential investments to improve the functioning of the corporate bond and credit default swap markets."
Third Quarter Results
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2008 increased 2.2% to $22.7 million, compared to $22.2 million for the third quarter of 2007. Commission revenue totaled $17.2 million on total trading volume of $49.0 billion, compared to $19.0 million in commission revenue on total trading volume of $75.7 billion for the third quarter of 2007.
U.S. high-grade corporate bond commissions decreased 10.1% to $10.8 million on trading volume of $27.5 billion for the third quarter of 2008, compared to $12.0 million in commissions on trading volume of $39.9 billion for the third quarter of 2007. U.S. high-grade fixed-rate and floating-rate bond trading volume totaled $24.4 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, compared to $31.2 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively, in the third quarter of 2007. Total U.S. high-grade trading volume includes single-dealer inquiries of $1.4 billion and $2.6 billion for the third quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of 2007, respectively. Effective September 1, 2008, single-dealer inquiry trades are being reported within U.S. high-grade fixed-rate and floating-rate bond trading volume. U.S. high-grade trading volume as a percentage of FINRA's high-grade TRACE trading volume decreased to an estimated 6.4%, compared to an estimated 7.8% for the third quarter of 2007.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Knight Capital Derivatives Platform
Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NITE) today introduced NetDelta(TM), an electronic settlement platform for the credit derivatives market. NetDelta addresses market infrastructure inefficiencies and underlying risks inherent in OTC derivatives by providing buy- and sell-side firms with comprehensive, real-time solutions for entering, maintaining and exiting new positions. NetDelta will also be able to reduce counterparty risk for existing positions in the near future.
"NetDelta was designed to address unnecessary counterparty risk, balance sheet inefficiencies, settlement lags, valuation issues and a lack of liquidity," said Lucio Biase, Managing Director, NetDelta, LLC. "NetDelta provides the automation and infrastructure the $54.6 trillion credit derivatives market needs."
The NetDelta solution benefits traders, prime brokerages, risk managers, controllers and settlement groups. It is applicable to new trades and will soon be applicable to existing positions in a firm's portfolio as well. The NetDelta offering also addresses many of the key principles recently set forth by the Operations Management Group (OMG) and President's Working Group (PWG) - both of which aim to instill a clear, functional and well-designed infrastructure that can meet the needs of the OTC derivatives markets.
"We are excited to bring NetDelta to the OTC derivatives markets in these challenging times," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Knight Capital Group. "We believe NetDelta is an ideal solution for the entire lifecycle of credit derivative trades. Importantly, the NetDelta solution supports the credit derivative market makers who are so vital to the health of the market."
The platform's modular technology allows for simple integration into existing trading platforms, settlement services and reporting engines. In addressing market infrastructure and legacy issues, the NetDelta solution renders unwinds and novations obsolete for positions cleared on NetDelta. NetDelta also allows for greater transparency of the value of each position without disclosing pivotal market making data. At present, NetDelta is internally beta testing the platform and in the process of onboarding clients.
"NetDelta was designed to address unnecessary counterparty risk, balance sheet inefficiencies, settlement lags, valuation issues and a lack of liquidity," said Lucio Biase, Managing Director, NetDelta, LLC. "NetDelta provides the automation and infrastructure the $54.6 trillion credit derivatives market needs."
The NetDelta solution benefits traders, prime brokerages, risk managers, controllers and settlement groups. It is applicable to new trades and will soon be applicable to existing positions in a firm's portfolio as well. The NetDelta offering also addresses many of the key principles recently set forth by the Operations Management Group (OMG) and President's Working Group (PWG) - both of which aim to instill a clear, functional and well-designed infrastructure that can meet the needs of the OTC derivatives markets.
"We are excited to bring NetDelta to the OTC derivatives markets in these challenging times," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Knight Capital Group. "We believe NetDelta is an ideal solution for the entire lifecycle of credit derivative trades. Importantly, the NetDelta solution supports the credit derivative market makers who are so vital to the health of the market."
The platform's modular technology allows for simple integration into existing trading platforms, settlement services and reporting engines. In addressing market infrastructure and legacy issues, the NetDelta solution renders unwinds and novations obsolete for positions cleared on NetDelta. NetDelta also allows for greater transparency of the value of each position without disclosing pivotal market making data. At present, NetDelta is internally beta testing the platform and in the process of onboarding clients.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
BIDS Trading and Charles River Development Connectivity
BIDS Trading, the alternative trading system (ATS) designed to increase competition and liquidity in the U.S. equity block trading market, and Charles River Development, an award-winning provider of technology systems and services for the global investment management community, today announced that connectivity has been established between their electronic trading platforms.
Through this partnership, current users of the Charles River Investment Management System (Charles River IMS) can now easily and anonymously route orders to BIDS Trading’s block trading platform; executing blocks of U.S. equities with little to no market impact. The partnership reaffirms both companies’ commitment to offer open and comprehensive electronic trading solutions, focused on helping traders reduce costs and risk, as well as increase operational efficiency in a secure environment.
“This integration is a major initiative in our continual support to help traders streamline workflow and facilitate best execution,” said Tom Driscoll, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Charles River Development. “Charles River IMS offers clients a central conduit to all liquidity pools across all asset classes. Our clients can connect with a host of international destinations – and their choices now include the BIDS ATS.”
“This connection furthers our efforts to create an open, efficient marketplace to anonymously trade blocks of U.S. equities,” said Tim Mahoney. “Connecting Charles River IMS’s global client base to the BIDS ATS allows users to anonymously access additional liquidity and helps us continue to deliver on our promise to offer the broadest participation and deepest liquidity pool possible.”
The BIDS ATS is accessible to both buy-side and sell-side firms that want to trade large blocks through continuous order matching and trade negotiation. Use of the BIDS ATS as a block trading service is not exclusive or subject to volume commitment and each participant may continue to use any ATS, ECN or exchange service that supports the trading needs of its customer base.
Through this partnership, current users of the Charles River Investment Management System (Charles River IMS) can now easily and anonymously route orders to BIDS Trading’s block trading platform; executing blocks of U.S. equities with little to no market impact. The partnership reaffirms both companies’ commitment to offer open and comprehensive electronic trading solutions, focused on helping traders reduce costs and risk, as well as increase operational efficiency in a secure environment.
“This integration is a major initiative in our continual support to help traders streamline workflow and facilitate best execution,” said Tom Driscoll, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Charles River Development. “Charles River IMS offers clients a central conduit to all liquidity pools across all asset classes. Our clients can connect with a host of international destinations – and their choices now include the BIDS ATS.”
“This connection furthers our efforts to create an open, efficient marketplace to anonymously trade blocks of U.S. equities,” said Tim Mahoney. “Connecting Charles River IMS’s global client base to the BIDS ATS allows users to anonymously access additional liquidity and helps us continue to deliver on our promise to offer the broadest participation and deepest liquidity pool possible.”
The BIDS ATS is accessible to both buy-side and sell-side firms that want to trade large blocks through continuous order matching and trade negotiation. Use of the BIDS ATS as a block trading service is not exclusive or subject to volume commitment and each participant may continue to use any ATS, ECN or exchange service that supports the trading needs of its customer base.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Instinet Europe Best Execution Policy Review
Instinet Europe Limited, the European agency brokerage subsidiary of electronic trading and agency-only brokerage services leader Instinet Incorporated, today published the key findings of its Best Execution Policy Review, conducted in accordance with MiFID regulations. The review covers Instinet Europe’s trading performance from 1 May 2008 through to 31 July 2008 (months 7-9 of MiFID) and follows the firm’s published findings of its execution quality from MiFID’s first six months in June.
The key findings are as follows:
• Instinet Europe’s SmartRouter™ has been enhanced to interact with new trading venues as they have been introduced. The average price improvement(1) when trading on new venues was 5.32 bps for the three month measurement period, and consistently improved month over month, rising to 6.43 bps in July 2008 compared with an initial 1.73 bps in November 2007, when MiFID was introduced.
• Of the shares traded away from the primary markets on alternative trading venues, Instinet Europe’s clients received price improvement 54.2 percent of the time (by value traded) and executed at the same price or better than found on the primary markets 96.0 percent of the time.
• By value traded, Instinet Europe executions away from the primary markets in UK, French, German and Dutch equities increased to 32.5 percent in July 2008 from 26.4 percent in May 2008. For UK equities alone, Instinet Europe in July 2008 executed 43.5 percent of its volume away from the London Stock Exchange, compared with 37.0 percent in May 2008.
• Instinet Europe has connected to and is successfully trading on both Turquoise and SWX Swiss Block, the two new multi-lateral trading facilities to have launched in August. Instinet Europe also became a direct member of the NYSE Euronext Lisbon Stock Exchange in August. During the review period, Instinet went live with the BlockMatch™ MTF, Instinet’s European block crossing platform, and announced a bilateral agreement with Credit Suisse to provide mutual access to each others’ dark pools. Additionally, Instinet Europe expects to continue to link to new liquidity pools as they become available, including BATS Europe, NASDAQ OMX Europe, NYSE Euronext’s SmartPool.
• Although not within the scope of MiFID, Instinet’s execution performance in US shares remains strong. In Investment Technology Group, Inc.’s (ITG®) recently published ITG Broker Edge™ report, which covered the four-quarter period ended 31 March, 2008, Instinet was ranked first for execution quality in overall US stock trading and #1 in nine out of the 14 ITG Broker Edge trading categories, as measured by value-added.
The key findings are as follows:
• Instinet Europe’s SmartRouter™ has been enhanced to interact with new trading venues as they have been introduced. The average price improvement(1) when trading on new venues was 5.32 bps for the three month measurement period, and consistently improved month over month, rising to 6.43 bps in July 2008 compared with an initial 1.73 bps in November 2007, when MiFID was introduced.
• Of the shares traded away from the primary markets on alternative trading venues, Instinet Europe’s clients received price improvement 54.2 percent of the time (by value traded) and executed at the same price or better than found on the primary markets 96.0 percent of the time.
• By value traded, Instinet Europe executions away from the primary markets in UK, French, German and Dutch equities increased to 32.5 percent in July 2008 from 26.4 percent in May 2008. For UK equities alone, Instinet Europe in July 2008 executed 43.5 percent of its volume away from the London Stock Exchange, compared with 37.0 percent in May 2008.
• Instinet Europe has connected to and is successfully trading on both Turquoise and SWX Swiss Block, the two new multi-lateral trading facilities to have launched in August. Instinet Europe also became a direct member of the NYSE Euronext Lisbon Stock Exchange in August. During the review period, Instinet went live with the BlockMatch™ MTF, Instinet’s European block crossing platform, and announced a bilateral agreement with Credit Suisse to provide mutual access to each others’ dark pools. Additionally, Instinet Europe expects to continue to link to new liquidity pools as they become available, including BATS Europe, NASDAQ OMX Europe, NYSE Euronext’s SmartPool.
• Although not within the scope of MiFID, Instinet’s execution performance in US shares remains strong. In Investment Technology Group, Inc.’s (ITG®) recently published ITG Broker Edge™ report, which covered the four-quarter period ended 31 March, 2008, Instinet was ranked first for execution quality in overall US stock trading and #1 in nine out of the 14 ITG Broker Edge trading categories, as measured by value-added.
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
MarketAxess Dealer Initiatives
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX), an electronic trading platform operator has announced two new dealer initiatives in response to institutional investor demand.
The Company has added 12 regional dealers to its market-making community, primarily to respond to investors' high-grade corporate bond inquiries in smaller trade sizes. MarketAxess has also added nine diversity dealers, who will now be able to compete for institutional investors' fixed-income order flow on the MarketAxess trading platform.
"In these difficult times for credit markets, investors are seeking alternative sources for market liquidity," said Kelley Millet, President of MarketAxess. "We are pleased to deliver the expanded dealer community to bring additional liquidity for odd-lots, one of the hardest hit areas for efficient and cost-effective trade execution. With this initiative, we believe we can increase market share in smaller trade sizes and improve the overall investor experience on the trading system."
The new dealers include independent broker-dealer firms, as well as dealer subsidiaries of regional banks. The MarketAxess dealer community now totals more than 50 dealers, up from 31 as of June 30, 2008, with more regional and diversity dealers expected to join.
The Company has added 12 regional dealers to its market-making community, primarily to respond to investors' high-grade corporate bond inquiries in smaller trade sizes. MarketAxess has also added nine diversity dealers, who will now be able to compete for institutional investors' fixed-income order flow on the MarketAxess trading platform.
"In these difficult times for credit markets, investors are seeking alternative sources for market liquidity," said Kelley Millet, President of MarketAxess. "We are pleased to deliver the expanded dealer community to bring additional liquidity for odd-lots, one of the hardest hit areas for efficient and cost-effective trade execution. With this initiative, we believe we can increase market share in smaller trade sizes and improve the overall investor experience on the trading system."
The new dealers include independent broker-dealer firms, as well as dealer subsidiaries of regional banks. The MarketAxess dealer community now totals more than 50 dealers, up from 31 as of June 30, 2008, with more regional and diversity dealers expected to join.
Thursday, 8 May 2008
MarketAxess Results
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MKTX) , the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for U.S. and European high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets bonds and other types of fixed-income securities, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008.
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 3.5% to $22.9 million, compared to $23.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. Pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2008 was $3.0 million, compared to $4.5 million for the first quarter of 2007, a decrease of 33.7%. Net income for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $1.6 million, or $0.05 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.07 per share on a diluted basis, for the first quarter of 2007.
For the first quarter of 2007, pre-tax margin was 12.9%, compared to 18.8% for the first quarter of 2007.
Richard M. McVey, chairman and chief executive officer of MarketAxess, commented, "Our base of recurring revenue, the improving quality of business traded over the MarketAxess platform, and growing contributions from new businesses all helped to preserve profitability and cash flow through these extraordinary times for credit markets, although trading volumes during the first quarter continued to be negatively impacted by dealer balance sheet constraints. Our strategy to increase client technology integration and expand customer order flow is on track, and we continue opportunistically to explore means to enhance the liquidity available to our dealer and investor clients on our platform. Importantly, business diversification is improving, advanced by our acquisition of Greenline Financial Technologies, Inc. ("GFT"), and we see significant opportunities for growth when market conditions stabilize."
First Quarter Results
Total revenue for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 3.5% to $22.9 million, compared to $23.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. Commission revenue totaled $19.3 million on total trading volume of $64.5 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $20.7 million in commission revenue on total trading volume of $104.5 billion for the first quarter of 2007. U.S. high-grade corporate bond commissions decreased 9.4% to $12.4 million on trading volume of $38.8 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $13.7 million in commissions on trading volume of $60.8 billion for the first quarter of 2007. U.S. high-grade fixed-rate and floating-rate bond trading volume in the first quarter of 2008 totaled $33.5 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively, compared to $40.4 billion and $15.5 billion, respectively, in the first quarter of 2007. Total U.S. high-grade trading volume includes single-dealer inquiries of $2.4 billion and $4.9 billion for the first quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2007, respectively. U.S. high-grade trading volume as a percentage of FINRA's high-grade TRACE trading volume decreased to an estimated 7.3% for the first quarter of 2008, compared to an estimated 9.4% for the first quarter of 2007.
European high-grade corporate bond commissions decreased 3.5% to $4.6 million on trading volume of $8.1 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $4.8 million in commissions on trading volume of $28.3 billion for the first quarter of 2007. European high-grade bond commissions in the first quarter of 2008 included distribution fees of $3.7 million and variable transaction fees of $0.9 million, based on the European pricing plan that was introduced in June 2007.
Other commissions, which include emerging markets, high yield, credit default swaps and agencies, increased 2.1% to $2.3 million on trading volume of $17.6 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $2.3 million in commissions on $15.3 billion in trading volume for the first quarter of 2007.
Technology products and services, which reflects revenue for technology licenses, support and professional services from our recent acquisitions of GFT and Trade West Systems ("TWS"), totaled $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2008.
Other revenue, which consists of information and user access fees, investment income and other revenue, decreased 5.6% to $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $3.0 million for the first quarter of 2007.
There were a total of 61 and 62 trading days in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, in the first quarter of 2008, compared to 62 and 64 trading days in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, in the first quarter of 2007.
Total expenses for the first quarter of 2008, which include expenses from the acquisition of GFT and TWS, increased 3.5% to $20.0 million, compared to $19.3 million for the first quarter of 2007. Employee compensation and benefits expense, which includes $0.4 million in severance costs, decreased 4.2% to $11.0 million, compared to $11.5 million for the first quarter of 2007. Professional and consulting expenses increased 17.3% to $2.2 million, compared to $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. General and administrative expenses increased 32.8% to $1.6 million, compared to $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2007.
Pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2008 was $3.0 million, compared to $4.5 million for the first quarter of 2007. Pre-tax margin was 12.9% for the first quarter of 2008, compared to 18.8% for the first quarter of 2007.
The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2008 was 46.2%, compared to 45.2% for the first quarter of 2007. The first quarter 2008 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by the absence of a research and development tax credit, a decrease in tax-exempt investment income and a relative increase in non-deductible expenses.
Net income for the first quarter of 2008 was $1.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2007.
Employee headcount as of March 31, 2008 was 202, compared to 171 as of March 31, 2007. First quarter 2008 headcount includes the addition of 25 employees from the acquisition of GFT on March 5, 2008.
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 3.5% to $22.9 million, compared to $23.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. Pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2008 was $3.0 million, compared to $4.5 million for the first quarter of 2007, a decrease of 33.7%. Net income for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $1.6 million, or $0.05 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.07 per share on a diluted basis, for the first quarter of 2007.
For the first quarter of 2007, pre-tax margin was 12.9%, compared to 18.8% for the first quarter of 2007.
Richard M. McVey, chairman and chief executive officer of MarketAxess, commented, "Our base of recurring revenue, the improving quality of business traded over the MarketAxess platform, and growing contributions from new businesses all helped to preserve profitability and cash flow through these extraordinary times for credit markets, although trading volumes during the first quarter continued to be negatively impacted by dealer balance sheet constraints. Our strategy to increase client technology integration and expand customer order flow is on track, and we continue opportunistically to explore means to enhance the liquidity available to our dealer and investor clients on our platform. Importantly, business diversification is improving, advanced by our acquisition of Greenline Financial Technologies, Inc. ("GFT"), and we see significant opportunities for growth when market conditions stabilize."
First Quarter Results
Total revenue for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 3.5% to $22.9 million, compared to $23.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. Commission revenue totaled $19.3 million on total trading volume of $64.5 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $20.7 million in commission revenue on total trading volume of $104.5 billion for the first quarter of 2007. U.S. high-grade corporate bond commissions decreased 9.4% to $12.4 million on trading volume of $38.8 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $13.7 million in commissions on trading volume of $60.8 billion for the first quarter of 2007. U.S. high-grade fixed-rate and floating-rate bond trading volume in the first quarter of 2008 totaled $33.5 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively, compared to $40.4 billion and $15.5 billion, respectively, in the first quarter of 2007. Total U.S. high-grade trading volume includes single-dealer inquiries of $2.4 billion and $4.9 billion for the first quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2007, respectively. U.S. high-grade trading volume as a percentage of FINRA's high-grade TRACE trading volume decreased to an estimated 7.3% for the first quarter of 2008, compared to an estimated 9.4% for the first quarter of 2007.
European high-grade corporate bond commissions decreased 3.5% to $4.6 million on trading volume of $8.1 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $4.8 million in commissions on trading volume of $28.3 billion for the first quarter of 2007. European high-grade bond commissions in the first quarter of 2008 included distribution fees of $3.7 million and variable transaction fees of $0.9 million, based on the European pricing plan that was introduced in June 2007.
Other commissions, which include emerging markets, high yield, credit default swaps and agencies, increased 2.1% to $2.3 million on trading volume of $17.6 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $2.3 million in commissions on $15.3 billion in trading volume for the first quarter of 2007.
Technology products and services, which reflects revenue for technology licenses, support and professional services from our recent acquisitions of GFT and Trade West Systems ("TWS"), totaled $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2008.
Other revenue, which consists of information and user access fees, investment income and other revenue, decreased 5.6% to $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $3.0 million for the first quarter of 2007.
There were a total of 61 and 62 trading days in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, in the first quarter of 2008, compared to 62 and 64 trading days in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, in the first quarter of 2007.
Total expenses for the first quarter of 2008, which include expenses from the acquisition of GFT and TWS, increased 3.5% to $20.0 million, compared to $19.3 million for the first quarter of 2007. Employee compensation and benefits expense, which includes $0.4 million in severance costs, decreased 4.2% to $11.0 million, compared to $11.5 million for the first quarter of 2007. Professional and consulting expenses increased 17.3% to $2.2 million, compared to $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. General and administrative expenses increased 32.8% to $1.6 million, compared to $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2007.
Pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2008 was $3.0 million, compared to $4.5 million for the first quarter of 2007. Pre-tax margin was 12.9% for the first quarter of 2008, compared to 18.8% for the first quarter of 2007.
The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2008 was 46.2%, compared to 45.2% for the first quarter of 2007. The first quarter 2008 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by the absence of a research and development tax credit, a decrease in tax-exempt investment income and a relative increase in non-deductible expenses.
Net income for the first quarter of 2008 was $1.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2007.
Employee headcount as of March 31, 2008 was 202, compared to 171 as of March 31, 2007. First quarter 2008 headcount includes the addition of 25 employees from the acquisition of GFT on March 5, 2008.
Saturday, 29 March 2008
LiquidityHub Ceases Trading
LiquidityHub Limited, established by a group of leading banks to aggregate liquidity and market data in support of electronic trading in the fixed income markets, today announced that it will cease electronic trading operations from close of business today.
The decision has been taken due to recent market conditions which have called into question the current scalability of the LiquidityHub model. Strategic options for the future of the Company are being evaluated.
The decision has been taken due to recent market conditions which have called into question the current scalability of the LiquidityHub model. Strategic options for the future of the Company are being evaluated.
Friday, 28 March 2008
ICAP Opens Indian Platform
ICAP (IAP.L), an international interdealer broker, announced today the launch of an electronic bond platform to service wholesale market participants in the Indian corporate debt sector. The platform was officially opened by Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram at a ceremony in Mumbai.
ICAP gained approval for an electronic broking system from the Securities Exchange Board of India in November 2007 and has since moved quickly to deliver a solution to the market.
Manish Sabharwal, CEO of ICAP India, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to extend ICAP’s proven global technologies to India’s corporate debt market participants and believe this will prove a major catalyst towards the SEBI’s goal of increasing liquidity and efficiencies in the burgeoning marketplace.”
Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s recent Union Budget highlighted measures important to the development of a robust domestic corporate bond market. These measures will enhance investment, benefit Indian companies, and improve the availability of finances for infrastructure development.
Commenting on the launch, Don McClumpha, Deputy CEO of ICAP Asia-Pacific, said: “The Indian markets are a key focus for our expansion across the region. ICAP will continue to invest and deliver the world’s leading technologies to OTC market participants to increase liquidity and further facilitate innovation.”
The market is expecting further reforms aimed at streamlining issuance procedures and boosting liquidity such as the borrowing/lending of securities. ICAP has successfully combined voice and electronic services in securities markets to enhance price discovery and trade opportunity for market participants and has built a strong position in repo markets globally.
ICAP gained approval for an electronic broking system from the Securities Exchange Board of India in November 2007 and has since moved quickly to deliver a solution to the market.
Manish Sabharwal, CEO of ICAP India, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to extend ICAP’s proven global technologies to India’s corporate debt market participants and believe this will prove a major catalyst towards the SEBI’s goal of increasing liquidity and efficiencies in the burgeoning marketplace.”
Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s recent Union Budget highlighted measures important to the development of a robust domestic corporate bond market. These measures will enhance investment, benefit Indian companies, and improve the availability of finances for infrastructure development.
Commenting on the launch, Don McClumpha, Deputy CEO of ICAP Asia-Pacific, said: “The Indian markets are a key focus for our expansion across the region. ICAP will continue to invest and deliver the world’s leading technologies to OTC market participants to increase liquidity and further facilitate innovation.”
The market is expecting further reforms aimed at streamlining issuance procedures and boosting liquidity such as the borrowing/lending of securities. ICAP has successfully combined voice and electronic services in securities markets to enhance price discovery and trade opportunity for market participants and has built a strong position in repo markets globally.
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