Barx proves catalyst for electronic swaps, says Icap’s Spencer

The move by UK investment bank Barclays Capital to offer live interest rate swaps prices via Bloomberg terminals is the catalyst that will drive the electronic trading of interest rate swaps, according to Icap chief executive Michael Spencer.

“This controversial sell- to buy-side initiative, considered by their peers as high risk at the time, has proven to be visionary and BarCap has gained very substantial market share, not to mention kudos from its move,” said Spencer in an address to the Bond Market Association this week.Icap, the world’s largest inter-dealer broker, has resisted moves to migrate its lucrative swaps business on to electronic trading platforms. But Spencer now sees the move as inevitable.

The UK broker has traded short-dated Eonia swaps via its i-swap platform for the past two months. “In November, we transacted a total of €18.25 billion of electronic business with an average maturity of 4.5 months,” said Spencer.

“We believe we have already materially overtaken the smaller platforms,” Spencer added. These platforms include ATFox, E-Mid and Swapstream.

Spencer plans to offer euro-denominated swaps with maturities out to 50 years in early 2005.

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.

Chartis RiskTech100® 2024

The latest iteration of the Chartis RiskTech100®, a comprehensive independent study of the world’s major players in risk and compliance technology, is acknowledged as the go-to for clear, accurate analysis of the risk technology marketplace. With its…

T+1: complacency before the storm?

This paper, created by WatersTechnology in association with Gresham Technologies, outlines what the move to T+1 (next-day settlement) of broker/dealer-executed trades in the US and Canadian markets means for buy-side and sell-side firms

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here