Turquoise, which under the new MiFID regulation is defined as a multi-lateral trading facility (MTF), was established by nine leading European investment banks as a pan-European, open equity trading platform on which all participants will have equal access. The nine backers have also committed to make markets in Europe's leading stocks so that Turquoise will have an immediate critical mass of natural liquidity from day one.

"RTS is pleased once again to provide access to a new trading venue that offers our customers the ability to tap into new trading opportunities throughout the European equity marketplace," said Steffen Gemuenden, Co-CEO and President of RTS.

Eli Lederman, Chief Executive Officer of Turquoise, said: "Turquoise will transform the European equity marketplace when it starts trading in early September, and we are pleased that RTS has agreed to be a participant from the start. It is through partners such as RTS that Turquoise will benefit from access to a further important market segment and swiftly establish the platform as a real force in European equity trading."

Turquoise will begin trading in 1,500 stocks across 14 countries in September. The exchange will be composed of two segments. Three hundred stocks will be traded in the integrated market segment where visible and dark orders will interact continuously. A further 1,200 stocks will trade in the dark only market.

RTS offers access through its Realtime Trading Desktop (RTD) portfolio, including its RTD-API's, the RTD front-end trading system, and RTD Tango, its high performance automated algorithmic trading solution.

Additionally, RTS will be proving direct market access to the new marketplace in its data center and hosting facilities across the world.