Before 2008, revenues and profits on bank trading desks were so high that costs didn’t really matter. Those days are over. Today, trading desks are suffering from a dangerous combination of low trading volumes, new regulations and climbing costs. To help banks navigate these challenges, Greenwich Associates has published a new report, based on interviews with several thousand market participants through 2016.
“Here we examine why things are different, why they must change, and we provide the sell side with 10 steps for keeping their key place in the capital market ecosystem into the future.” – Kevin McPartland, Head of Research for Market Structured & Technology
10 steps broker-dealers can take to keep their trading desks relevant
Revenues are down, costs are up and the list of rules and regulations that must be followed doesn’t seem to stop growing. Today change is a requirement. Painful in the short run, a lean operation coupled with improving market conditions could result in a market leader.
In this short research brief Greenwich Associates presents 10 steps for banks working to remain relevant going forward. As most of the market’s major players are implementing at least some of them now, a review of this top ten will put into focus not only challenges institutions face, but some of the solutions and enabling technologies they could consider to empower strategic growth.
Even during this time when budgets and other resources are being cut, spending today to save later is a must. Becoming leaner and meaner now will mean long-term success once the cyclical economic factors eventually improve.
About Greenwich
Greenwich Associates is the leading global provider of market intelligence and advisory services to the financial services industry. Greenwich Associates specializes in providing fact-based insights and practical recommendations to improve business results. Its insights and advice are based on business expertise and research conducted with influential buyers of financials services. These buyers include fund managers, hedge funds, pension funds, endowments, large corporations, small & mid-sized businesses, and consumers.
