TP ICAP Investigates Critical Security Vulnerability

TP ICAP plc (LON: TCAP), which is the world’s largest inter-dealer broker, announced on Tuesday that its security team is investigating and evaluating a vulnerability, which could have the potential to allow a remote attacker to execute code on the server.

As detailed by the company, the vulnerability is in the Log4j Java library remote code execution Execution Execution is the process during which a client submits an order to the brokerage, which consequently executes it resulting in an open position in a given asset. The execution of the order occurs only when it is filled. There is typically a time delay between the placement of the order and the execution which is called latency.In the retail FX space, reliable brokers always strive to deliver best execution to their clients in order to maintain a solid business relationship with them. This is a common marketing point of emphasis by brokers, whose action execution varies considerably from company to company. When execution prices are not matching the submitted price the client is charged or credited the difference resulting from the negative or positive slippage.Slippage is a very contentious issue among retail traders, which can lead to issues. Many traders view levels of slippage at brokers as a key determinant for their business. Best Execution a Legal ObligationBrokers are required by law to diver to their clients the best execution possible. Some regulators are requiring brokers to submit execution stats in order to assess the quality of their services. Other brokers are regularly posting execution statistics in order to boost the confidence of their clients in the best execution commitment of the company.Best execution has been a point of emphasis in recent years from both retail and institutional players in the FX industry. Negotiating and executing transactions in order to promote a robust, fair, open, liquid and appropriately transparent FX market is identified as one of the six main principles outlined in the FX Global Code of Conduct, which came into effect in 2018. Execution is the process during which a client submits an order to the brokerage, which consequently executes it resulting in an open position in a given asset. The execution of the order occurs only when it is filled. There is typically a time delay between the placement of the order and the execution which is called latency.In the retail FX space, reliable brokers always strive to deliver best execution to their clients in order to maintain a solid business relationship with them. This is a common marketing point of emphasis by brokers, whose action execution varies considerably from company to company. When execution prices are not matching the submitted price the client is charged or credited the difference resulting from the negative or positive slippage.Slippage is a very contentious issue among retail traders, which can lead to issues. Many traders view levels of slippage at brokers as a key determinant for their business. Best Execution a Legal ObligationBrokers are required by law to diver to their clients the best execution possible. Some regulators are requiring brokers to submit execution stats in order to assess the quality of their services. Other brokers are regularly posting execution statistics in order to boost the confidence of their clients in the best execution commitment of the company.Best execution has been a point of emphasis in recent years from both retail and institutional players in the FX industry. Negotiating and executing transactions in order to promote a robust, fair, open, liquid and appropriately transparent FX market is identified as one of the six main principles outlined in the FX Global Code of Conduct, which came into effect in 2018. Read this Term (RCE), also known as Log4Shell. The vulnerability was disclosed on December 9 by the Apache Log4j project.

“There is no evidence that this vulnerability has been exploited successfully against TP ICAP,” the official announcement stated. “Since learning of the vulnerability, TP ICAP has been evaluating its exposure and methodically remediating as patches have become available. In addition, we have been deploying signatures and enhanced security controls to further protect our environment from the Log4j exploit.”

Moreover, TP ICAP assured that its security team will continue to assess the impact of the vulnerability on its systems and will ‘remediate or mitigate as required’.

“We will provide further updates as necessary,” the company added.

Expanding Footprint

TP ICAP is a major player in the institutional trading Institutional Trading Institutional trading can be characterized as individuals or entities with the ability to invest in securities that are not available to retail traders directly.This includes specific investments such as FX forwards or swaps, among others.There are many types of players in the institutional trading space. These include central banks, retail and commercial banks, internet banks, credit unions, savings, and loan associations, investment banks, investment companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and mortgage companies. The biggest institutional investors in the United States includes Blackrock, Vanguard Asset Management, State Street Global Advisors, and BNY Mellon Investors.Institutional traders are making trades for banks, insurance companies, or even hedge funds. It is estimated that institutional forex investors control approximately 70% of the market. By extension, retail traders make up only about 5.5% of the market, while rest is comprised of central banks such as the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB). Institutional Traders ExplainedInstitutional traders buy and sell securities for accounts they manage for a group or institution. Institutional investors buy and trade in all markets and on all exchanges. Only certifiable individuals can become institutional traders. To be an institutional trader, you must take exams to become a registered representative or broker. Institutional traders buy and sell securities for accounts they manage for a group or institution. Pension funds, mutual fund families, insurance companies, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are also familiar assets used by institutional traders.Of note, institutional traders can affect the market in ways that ordinary retail traders cannot. Since institutional traders can engage in larger volumes, these trades potentially can greatly impact the share price of a security. As such, many traders often may split trades among various brokers or over time in order to not make a material impact. Institutional trading can be characterized as individuals or entities with the ability to invest in securities that are not available to retail traders directly.This includes specific investments such as FX forwards or swaps, among others.There are many types of players in the institutional trading space. These include central banks, retail and commercial banks, internet banks, credit unions, savings, and loan associations, investment banks, investment companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and mortgage companies. The biggest institutional investors in the United States includes Blackrock, Vanguard Asset Management, State Street Global Advisors, and BNY Mellon Investors.Institutional traders are making trades for banks, insurance companies, or even hedge funds. It is estimated that institutional forex investors control approximately 70% of the market. By extension, retail traders make up only about 5.5% of the market, while rest is comprised of central banks such as the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB). Institutional Traders ExplainedInstitutional traders buy and sell securities for accounts they manage for a group or institution. Institutional investors buy and trade in all markets and on all exchanges. Only certifiable individuals can become institutional traders. To be an institutional trader, you must take exams to become a registered representative or broker. Institutional traders buy and sell securities for accounts they manage for a group or institution. Pension funds, mutual fund families, insurance companies, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are also familiar assets used by institutional traders.Of note, institutional traders can affect the market in ways that ordinary retail traders cannot. Since institutional traders can engage in larger volumes, these trades potentially can greatly impact the share price of a security. As such, many traders often may split trades among various brokers or over time in order to not make a material impact. Read this Term industry, and it is only expanding its reach. Earlier this year, it acquired the dark pool operator, Liquidnet and is also going to launch crypto trading services for its institutional clients.

Furthermore, the company strengthened its data analytics and post-trade service with a new product and even launched a fully automated Spot FX matching platform, called SpotMatch.

Despite a pullback in its business in the first half of the year, TP ICAP reported a solid 15 percent gain in its revenue in the third quarter of 2021 to around $610.20 million, Finance Magnates reported.