OPTIONS
MARKET
COMPETITIVE ONCE AGAIN
SPIDERROCK ATS
The SpiderRock ATS is an electronic trading network where initiating interest is efficiently matched with a broad and diverse pool of liquidity via a competitive and open auction process. For technical and integration information please visit docs.spiderrockconnect.com
OUR TRADING NETWORK
Buy-side Participants
Institutional funds can initiate orders electronically via our Block or Flash auction mechanisms and trade directly with established relationships and/or the network of liquidity providers connected to our ATS.
Sell-side Participants
Customer-facing institutions (such as BD/banks) can leverage our ATS in multiple ways. They can electronically interact with customer orders, directly access upstairs shows, and seamlessly lay off risk.
Liquidity Providers
Systematic market-makers and other institutional clients form a valuable, diversified, and competitive liquidity providing ecosystem to respond to all incoming Flash and Block auctions broadcasted by our ATS.
Electronic Auction Innovation
Our options ATS offers two different auction mechanisms which allow clients to interact with off-screen liquidity.
Block Auction
This innovative auction process removes manual interaction and invites institutional clients to transact electronically with a wide array of liquidity providers via the SpiderRock ATS. Initiating clients can access both the SpiderRock Network of liquidity providers as well as existing trading counterparties upon request.
Flash Auction
This instantaneous auction attempts to match an initiating order with auto-responding liquidity. Our two-step process requires liquidity providers to respond with price and size before the initiating order price is used to match. In all circumstances, auction responses are revealed providing valuable price discovery.
Block Auction
This innovative auction process removes manual interaction and
invites institutional clients to transact electronically with a wide array of liquidity providers via the SpiderRock ATS. Initiating clients can access both the SpiderRock Network of liquidity providers as well as existing trading counterparties upon request.
Auction duration
15 – 300 seconds
Counterparties
Direct to existing counterparties / SR Network
Identity
Can reveal identity to existing counterparties
Best Price Offset
Yes
Limit price update
Can update limit price anytime during an auction
Limit price adjustment
By delta/gamma (optional)
Auction duration
Immediate auction
Counterparties
Auto responders
Identity
Anonymous only
Best Price Offset
Responders Only
Limit price update
Not applicable
Limit price adjustment
Not applicable
Auction duration
15 – 300 seconds
Counterparties
Direct to existing counterparties / SR Network
Identity
Can reveal identity to existing counterparties
Best Price Offset
Yes
Limit price update
Can update limit price anytime during an auction
Limit price adjustment
By delta/gamma (optional)
Flash Auction
This instantaneous auction attempts to match an initiating order with auto-responding liquidity. Our two-step process requires liquidity providers to respond with price and size before the initiating order price is used to match. In all circumstances, auction responses are revealed providing valuable price discovery.
Auction duration
Immediate auction
Counterparties
Auto responders
Identity
Anonymous only
Best Price Offset
Responders Only
Limit price update
N/A
Limit price adjustment
N/A
our Block Auction in action
KEY FEATURES OF OUR AUCTION PROCESS
We built our auction system on our well vetted live analytics and routing logic infrastructure bringing automation, pricing guidance, and transparency to the price discovery process. We have focused on workflow design to deliver a platform that is modern, easy to use, powerful and is a complete off-screen auction trading solution for both initiating customers and responding liquidity providers.
INITIATORS
1. Initiate a Flash or Block Auction
A Flash Auction provides initiators an immediate response from our liquidity-providing network. A Block Auction is longer lasting and allows initiating customers to gather interest electronically across price levels and size from our network or established relationships.
2. Customize Who Sees Your Auction
Choose to trade directly with an existing trading relationship and/or utilize the SpiderRock Network to initiate a competitive auction across multiple market participants via an elegant order entry process.
3. Let Our Analytics Provide Price Guidance
Lean on the SpiderRock live fair value computed using robust proprietary fitting techniques to initiate an auction at a fair price and gauge the strength of responses.
4. Utilize Our Best Price Automation
5. Choose Whether To Adjust Limits
Initiating orders can be tied or not tied to stock; orders without a stock leg can be adjusted by both delta and gamma or have a static limit price.
RESPONDERS
1. Access Attractive Flow
Gain direct access to Flash or Block orders initiated by asset managers, banks, and other market participants. Our Flash Auctions have also been integrated with our algos, giving responders access to a new source of electronic option flow.
2. Adjust Prices As Auction Progresses
Automatically adjust auction responses using an underlying reference price, delta, and gamma allowing liquidity providers to easily respond and manage multiple auctions.
3. View All Responders Prices
Liquidity providers can view responses from all auction responders, offering valuable market depth transparency and helping with price/size adjustment decisions.
4. Respond Systematically Via The MLINK API
Consume and respond to auctions systematically via MLINK, our proprietary API, which streams auction notices and associated live market data and analytics.
5. Grant Client Access
Broker dealers can grant their own clients access to the SpiderRock ATS, allowing those clients to easily direct and manage their orders via an elegant trading system.
Get In Touch
Contact the SpiderRock team to learn more.