This builds on FOW TRADEDATA's alliance with CGS which helped develop the CUSIP identification system for equity, ETF and index options listed on U.S. exchanges.

The U.S. and Canadian Options Services provide unique CUSIP IDs for equity, ETF and index options, along with accompanying ISINs and related data elements such as strike price, contract name, exchange code and underlying symbol. Market participants can receive the CUSIP Options Service directly from CGS or via an authorized market data vendor.

FOW TRADEDATA is the source of the contract data covering all the major options exchanges in the U.S. and Canada. Both the U.S. and Canadian Options Services provide mapping back to the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) 21-character codes, Options Price Reporting Authority (OPRA) 17-character codes and the underlying equity's CUSIP, ISIN, Ticker and International Organization for Standards (ISO) Market Identifier Codes (MIC).

"The ability to accurately track assets internally and with third parties at a critical period of industry confidence needs robust symbology and solutions that support firms in this endeavour and the launch of the CUSIP Options Service in Canada delivers that support," said Mark Woolfenden, Managing Director, FOW TRADEDATA. "We are both delighted and excited to extend our partnership with CGS to bring CUSIPs to the Canadian derivatives market for equity, ETF and index options, which delivers increased operational efficiencies and benefits to Montreal market participants, that subscribers to the U.S. CUSIP Options Service have enjoyed for many years," said Gregg Whitbread, Product Manager, Xymbology, FOW TRADEDATA.