Sell-Side Trading Desks Fighting For Survival in Increasingly Hostile Landscape

Prior to the global financial crisis in 2008, trading desks were basking in revenues and profits that made their respective costs virtually negligible – since then a litany of regulatory changes, rising labor costs, and other factors have collectively helped erode such profits, creating a wave of challenges that sell-side trading desks have been forced to deal with.

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The issues faced by sell-side trading desks are not exclusive to any one asset class or sector. Indeed, many leading lenders over the past two years have seen dramatic reductions in their personnel and workforces, namely in connection with foreign Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term (FX) or fixed income trading desks in countries such as the UK.

To help address this phenomenon, Greenwich Associates recently published a new report that touched on a series of ten recommendations for broker-dealers that can collectively help slow the bleeding.

Lean and Mean

Greenwich Associates conducted its lengthy multi-thronged interviews with several thousand market participants through 2016. The collective goal was to address lingering headwinds and to also help broker-dealers ultimately reposition themselves in what has been an increasingly hostile environment for profitable trading desks.

Indeed, not all issues facing trading desks are preventable – for example a recent bout of low trading Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders Read this Term or volumes has also eroded profitability across many units. In addition, many other issues that are now cropping up are cyclical in nature, which have only added to mitigated revenues.

Ultimately, the survey advocated a number of different strategies, such as focusing on profitable rather than high revenue clients, as well as finding a specific niche. Broker-dealers would also be prudent in carefully managing its reputation, as well as moving away from legacy technology, in addition to making other changes to process and culture that can help foster long-term viability.

According to Kevin McPartland, Greenwich Associates Head of Research for Market Structure and Technology, in a recent statement on the survey: “When sell-side trading desks were generating amazing profits and returns on equity, banks didn’t have to worry much about efficiency. The changes banks are implementing today are painful in the short-term. But becoming leaner and meaner now will mean long-term success once the cyclical economic factors eventually improve.”

“Sell-side trading desks have been upended by structural and cyclical changes. Becoming leaner and meaner now will mean long term success once the cyclical economic factors eventually improve,” he added.