FlexTrade and The SmartStream Reference Data Utility (RDU) have just announced the integration of the SmartStream RDU with the FlexTRADER EMS (execution management system). The integration offers mutual clients the ability to embed SmartStream RDU’s Systematic Internaliser (SI) Registry information directly into the send order ticket, providing much needed clarity on counterparty SI status, prior to key 2018 MiFID II milestone dates.
The SI Registry fills a gap in the MiFID II reporting regime, which requires that industry participants identify whether trading counterparties are SIs for the financial instrument that they are trading, so that they can determine which counterparty must report the trade. However, no mechanism is provided in the MiFID II framework to determine SI status. The problem is especially acute for asset managers and hedge funds, who have not built the infrastructure needed to support reporting, and rely on their SI counterparties for those functions.
The SI Registry is a collaboration between the SmartStream RDU, the Approved Publication Arrangement (APA) community and their SI clients to provide a consolidated register of systematic internalisers mapped to instruments. It will become increasingly important as the SI Regime becomes mandatory from 1st September 2018.
Andy Mahoney
Now that we’ve moved to MiFID II business as usual, we have started to look at how we can make compliance a more integrated part of a trader’s workflow,” said Andy Mahoney, Head of Sales, FlexTrade UK Ltd. “With the first systematic internaliser assessments coming up later in the year, integration with SmartStream RDU’s SI Registry gives traders the transparency they need on a counterparty’s SI status before routing an order.
The SI Registry offers transparency that is needed as part of the trade workflow and integration into FlexTRADER EMS making it easy for our mutual customers to make more informed choices. With the mandatory SI regime commencing from the 1st September this year, we see more brokers offering SI services and growing demand from clients to understand who is offering what,” added Peter Moss, CEO of the SmartStream RDU.
Peter Moss
FlexTrade’s integration with the SmartStream RDU is fully cross-asset and embedded directly into the send order ticket as a flag to identify whether the selected counterparty is operating as an SI in the given instrument,” continued Mahoney. “Embedding regulatory compliance information into the EMS ensures the path to best execution is as efficient as possible.