BATS takes a step closer to launching new platforms

US exchange operator BATS Global Markets has filed rules with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the equity options platform it plans to launch in early 2010.
By None

US exchange operator BATS Global Markets has filed rules with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the equity options platform it plans to launch in early 2010.

The rule filing takes BATS’ new US options platform, which it first announced in July, a step closer to launch.

“We reached an important milestone with formal filing of our options rule set as we continue to make great progress toward a BATS Options go-live early next year,” said Joe Ratterman, chief executive of BATS Global Markets and BATS Exchange, in a statement. “The options markets are at a transformative stage and we intend to be a clear and loud voice in the current debate on topics like penny pricing, payment for order flow and step-up auctions.”

BATS plans to make its options platform certification system available in December to BATS Exchange members for connectivity and testing.

The company also recently filed rules with the SEC for BYX, its secondary US equities trading platform, also slated for launch in early 2010.

BATS’ existing trading platforms include BATS Exchange, its primary US equities venue and BATS Europe, a pan-European multilateral trading facility.

In October, BATS Exchange had a matched market share of 9.48% of total US equities trading, and BATS Europe had a 3.71% share of European equities trading, according to the exchange group’s own figures.

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