With Europe’s first equity consolidated tape now operational, effective today, 14 September, market participants are expected to gain a clearer view of liquidity and pricing. The TRADE sits down with EuroCTP’s chief executive to unpack how far it will change the way firms trade, assess execution and source liquidity, and what might come next.

Ahead of the launch of Europe’s consolidated tape this month, Rosa Armesto, director general at the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE), discusses why the initiative should not be viewed as a silver bullet, stressing the fact that it is “simply adding to something that already exists”.

In a recent package of reforms, the industry body stated that the tape would be delivered within 18 months; the proposals have attracted support from all corners of the industry, including names such as AFME and Goldman Sachs.

Around 40% of brokers plan to recruit more quantitative researchers and execution analytics specialists amid fierce competition for specialist talent, according to a recent Coalition Greenwich report.

The TRADE sits down with Brian Hyndman, chief executive at Blue Ocean, to explore the current landscape for extended trading hours, and how regulation and future growth come into play.

The TRADE caught up with Alexandra Roby, head of equity sales, UK and Ireland, at SIX, to unpack key market structure changes taking place across Europe, from the decline of the lit book to the growth of periodic auctions, as well as the role played by incoming regulation and systematic internalisers.

The industry association emphasised key measures that MISP should encourage, including SI recognition and mandatory CSD interoperability.

Ellie Beasley, head of market structure and EMEA equities chief operating officer at Goldman Sachs, gives her perspective on what to keep an eye on in Q2 2026.

While fragmentation offers European market participants benefits such as bilateral liquidity and reduced venue fees, experts at TradeTech 2026 in Amsterdam highlight that market data and infrastructure cost challenges remain.