Before the outbreak of the crisis, the world of derivatives was as exciting as a the running episodes of Sesame Street. Some minor changes, but basically every day the same. Press releases could be copy-pasted from the previous month. Volume of traded options went up, and bid-ask spreads went down. This has all been ruinedRead more
Comments on posts on websites are highly appreciated. Mostly short views and opinions on other market makers and trading in general, it’s fun to read and now and then carry valuable clues of how trading firms are doing. Yesterday evening a comment was written on the proposed deal between market maker Optiver and broker Binck.Read more
The only listed Dutch trading firm Van der Moolen has settled charges for improper trading within its US specialist unit back in 2004. It has sold the US specialist activities in December 2007 to the prestigious Lehman Brothers. One would expect this would end the stream of legal problems for the troubled firm. Wrong, accordingRead more
Twice a year Euronext is auctioning licenses for market makers in options. The market makers don’t have to pay for the right to send their quotes, they just have to fulfil their duty. The right to send quotes to the market is granted to the market makers who commit themselves to the tightest bid-ask spreads.Read more
Trouble at IMC. Everyone needs a hobby. Some collect stamps, others paint miniature battlefields and the most nerdy of all write weblogs. At Dutch market maker firm IMC they have been collecting side activities. A free newspaper, a website for investors, asset management and some risk consultancy. And the remains of a bank. The eraRead more
