MLJS worked together with KVH, a provider of network and managed IT services, and Activ Financial Systems, a low-latency market data provider, to develop the new platform. The service gives access to all Japanese exchanges through the member participants, including the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s new ultra-fast cash trading system, arrowhead.
In addition to arrowhead, the platform offers market data and execution access to markets outside of Japan. Derivatives exchanges are also fully supported and in particular should benefit from lower latency when the Osaka Securities Exchange moves its futures and options trading engine to Tokyo in 2011.
Carrie Cheung, director of Asia Pacific electronic trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML), said: “In the past, clients looking for exceptionally low latency were limited to co-locating at specific exchange data centers in Japan. Hosting there means access is limited to just one market and one broker, cost performance is not very efficient as well.
“Third-party hosting places the power in our clients’ hands, allowing them to freely choose the most efficient markets and the best performing brokers from one location for a competitive price. Lantecy sensitive strategies will benefit from our state-of-the-art direct access platform and allow trading at speeds very similar to those of exchange co-location. Coupled with our broad range of services, this is an ideal solution for clients outside Japan who wish to trade from one local outlet.”
Mehrez Hirari, in charge of proximity sales at KVH, said: “From our strategically located data center, with its comprehensive ecosystem of financial tenants, we offer a unique environment that delivers ultra-low latency access to exchanges and direct connectivity with all market players. This results in a uniquely cost-effective solution for clients to reach increasingly fragmented pools of liquidity. This is highly comparable to exchange co-location latency, but incurs much lower costs.”
Timothy Neo, MD of Asia Pacific at Activ, said: “To effectively compete in today’s increasingly interrelated financial markets, clients need cost-effective, fast access to both regional market data and data from exchanges around the world. By powering this type of platform with the lowest latency global market data from ACTIV, we can deliver unparalleled levels of speed and flexibility in a service that is more than just a single-point solution for one market.”
Mark Wheatley, MD of Asia Pacific electronic trading and head of Japan equities at BAML, said: “Traders who employ high-frequency strategies using cash and derivatives—be they futures or options—have shown huge interest. In today’s environment where clients are seeking to minimize counterparty risk by trading with multiple brokers, this solution makes even more sense. Users have complete freedom to choose which brokers to route through, all from one location and for a very competitive price.”
