KBW, a full-service investment bank and broker-dealer specializing in the financial services sector, has leveraged Fidessa's US and European sell-side trading platform for more than eight years to support its equity sales and trading businesses across North America, Europe, and Asia. The firm has decided to extend the global relationship because of Fidessa's superior front and middle office functionality and its extensive connectivity network.

Fidessa provides KBW with world-class execution capabilities through its global order management system (OMS), including algorithmic trading, pairs trading, IOIs, DMA and compliance, as well as functionality to support client allocations and trade confirmations. The integration of the front and middle offices, coupled with the Fidessa network and connectivity services, gives KBW the benefits of a consolidated solution.

"At KBW, we pride ourselves on knowledge of the financial sector and our execution capabilities, so it's important that we employ the best technology available to support our institutional clients," said John Ragan, Director of Equity Trading at KBW. "We also wanted to exploit the efficiencies of a single consolidated platform across the front and middle office. Naturally, our requirements have changed over the eight years we have worked with Fidessa, and they have always been flexible in finding solutions to match our specific needs. In Fidessa, we have found a true technology partner that can support us now and into the future."

Justin Llewellyn-Jones, Chief Operating Officer at Fidessa US, added: "The external forces of increased regulation, market complexity and reduced volumes are putting brokers under more pressure than ever before. Fidessa provides the optimal tools to counter these challenges, with best-of-breed technology solutions delivered from an integrated platform that keep the total cost of ownership low and competitive advantage high."