EU firms call for single consolidated tape provider

Some say new rules could create data fragmentation and raise connectivity costs

Competitive markets are generally considered desirable, but in the case of a consolidated tape (CT) in Europe, the idea of multiple providers is not so welcome.

“Normally we are quite prompt to say competition will help the market be more effective, but in this case, the consolidated tape by design is more suited to a central provider, where you see all the data at a very low cost. So, competition, in this case, may not be the right answer,” says one head of market structure at a European