Aggregated pricing streams are preferable to single bank lines for most FX trading clients.
Non-bank price-makers have become more influential during the past few years and for most clients a prime-of-prime (PoP) broker is the only way to get access to this important liquidity source.
However, FX PoP brokerage is not an easy market to crack.
Stater Global Markets’ June 3 announcement confirming it was ceasing its PoP offering referred to the difficulties of competing with larger rivals, even for a business with a substantial client base and a strong management team.
While the firm says its decision was prompted by the refusal of investor SBL Holdings to put any more money into the business, providers are coming under increasing pressure from clients who want to know they are getting better access to liquidity.
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Jonathan Brewer, |
According to IS Prime managing partner Jonathan Brewer, many PoPs actively market themselves as “true prime of prime”, positioning themselves solely as a credit intermediary that gives a client access directly to tier-1 liquidity and even the chance to communicate directly with liquidity providers.
