The solution incorporates Fidessa's world-class smart order router and connectivity to multiple liquidity venues allowing First Securities, a subsidiary of Swedbank AB, to meet the challenges of an increasingly fragmented marketplace.

Peter Wessel, Head of Equities at First Securities, explains the decision: "It is fundamental to our business strategy that we offer the best possible service to our buy-side clients and that underpinned this decision. The requirement to upgrade our trading capabilities was largely prompted by the liquidity fragmentation that has characterised the European market over the last two years."

Fidessa's SaaS trading solution comprises specialist trading platforms developed for the European, US, Canadian, Japanese and Asian markets, including electronic order management, smart order routing, real-time market data, and global market connectivity.

Wessel continued: "We were aware of Fidessa's reputation for rich functionality and, with their powerful smart order routing capabilities and broad market connectivity, we can be sure that we are offering the best possible execution services to our buy-side clients. With this decision we are also future-proofing ourselves against further change, for example the Oslo Børs' move to the TradElect platform and the London Stock Exchange's forthcoming Millennium Exchange platform migration. Investing in Fidessa's solution allows us to focus on our core business."

Mark Holden, New Business Sales Manager for Fidessa in the region, added: "Three Oslo-based brokers have now selected our trading platform this year and we continue to see strong interest from other firms in the Nordic market. Many of them are reviewing their technology needs in light of the growth in the number and type of trading destinations, exchange platform upgrades and the new CCP from Oslo clearing. We have a mature understanding of liquidity fragmentation, and have built our SOR capabilities to manage execution requirements across the complex range of both lit and dark trading venues that now exist. Coupled with our established reputation for robust and resilient technology, ours is proving to be a very compelling proposition."