Thomson Reuters announced today the launch of a new direct feed service. Elektron Direct Feed provides high-performance access to real-time market data sourced directly from individual trading venues in a standardized and flexible format. Thomson Reuters already offers a consolidated feed, Elektron Real Time, which together with Elektron Direct Feed now allows it to provide its customers with real-time data in two different tiers of latency.
The new service is aimed at algorithmic trading firms focused on smart order routing strategies which rely on ultra-low latency market data to route trades to the venue offering them the best Execution . These firms also require market data in a standardized format to ensure full price transparency across the multiple venues they operate in. Elektron Direct Feed uses FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) hardware acceleration technology developed by Celoxica, which has been developing such advanced computing technologies for high frequency traders for over ten years.
Elektron Direct Feed is a hybrid solution offering hardware acceleration to achieve low latency and software optimization for recovery and static data mapping. According to Thomson Reuters, this approach ensures customers receive a fast and robust real-time data feed which can be installed and integrated into their applications quickly and easily. Its use of configurable, multicast FPGA technology for real-time data processing also means that multiple direct feeds can be supported on a single server, reducing infrastructure and operating costs.
Covering US cash Equities initially, Elektron Direct Feed will deliver a standardized, full tick, full depth of book solution. According to Thomson Reuters, over the course of 2014 and 2015, Elektron Direct Feed will expand to supply data from US futures and options exchanges as well as expand its coverage of European venues.
"The launch of Elektron Direct Feed further demonstrates our commitment to offering our customers best in class data solutions," said Mike Powell, Managing Director for Enterprise Capabilities, Financial & Risk, at Thomson Reuters. "Elektron Direct Feed has been designed for those customers for whom speed and agility are key components of their trading strategies as they seek out the best prices for their clients," Powell added.
