Frankfurt-based RTS Realtime Systems Group claims to be the first independent software vendor (ISV) to have passed full conformance testing for the Chicago Board of Trade's new electronic trading platform, e-cbot, which is powered by Liffe Connect.
Scheduled for launch in November 2003, e-cbot replaces Eurex's a/c/e system at the Chicago exchange.
Steffen Gemünden, member of the RTS board, comments: "As a Tier 1 Euronext.liffe ISV, RTS provides all trading functionality offered by the Liffe Connect platform...Together with our newly launched Static Dartboard for the high end future traders, we offer a fast and cost effective solution for trading on e-cbot."
Privately-held RTS already provides connectivity to 50 electronic exchanges including other US markets ACE, CME, Brokertec, ISE, CBOE, BOX, OneChicago and NQLX.
Seperately, Eurex appears increasingly liking to go head-to-head with the main Chicago exchanges by offering futures and options on US treasury bonds when it launches it US operation next year. Speaking at a Bond Market Association meeting in New York on Tuesday, Chip Chong, driector of risk strategy at the Clearing Corporation, Eurex's partner in the US venture, said Eurex planned to offer "two-year, five-year and ten-year US bond financial futures and options".
Eurex has yet to divulge its exact listing plans and has issued a "no comment" on Chong's remarks.