As financial markets evolve, Trading Technologies (TT) is leading the way with expanded product offerings, enhanced automation, and AI-driven insights. At a panel discussion TT 2025: The Future Is Now at FIA Boca on March 11, Alun Green, EVP & Managing Director, Futures & Options, and Justin Llewellyn-Jones, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, shared TT’s vision for the future, emphasizing the transformation of trading, clearing, and data analytics.
Reflecting on the industry’s journey, Green highlighted the shift from floor-based, voice-to-voice trading to electronic execution. “We saw volumes massively increasing as a result of electronification,” he said. “Now, we are seeing a shift toward low-touch and zero-touch trading, with algorithmic execution playing a central role. Our strategy at TT is to ensure we evolve alongside our customers—and, in many cases, stay ahead of them.”
Llewellyn-Jones emphasized that this transformation extends beyond listed derivatives. “The digitization of futures, equities, and FX markets follows the same curve,” he noted. “As other asset classes catch up, their digitization will accelerate. TT is well-positioned to support clients in this multi-asset evolution.”
TT is not just adapting—it’s driving change. “We are expanding into new asset classes and functionalities to bring greater value to our customers,” Green said.
Recent developments include:
● TT Accreditation Program – Certifying users in mastering TT products.
● European Energy Market Expansion – Adding spot energy trading alongside derivatives.
● Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) Integration – Allowing traders to assess broker and algo performance.
● Acquisition of ATEO – Strengthening TT’s capabilities in clearing and execution management.
“Excellence in execution isn’t just about placing orders,” Green emphasized. “It’s about optimizing performance across the entire trade lifecycle.”
TT is tackling one of the industry’s biggest inefficiencies: the disconnect between execution and clearing. Historically, front, middle, and back offices have operated in silos, leading to miscommunications and inefficiencies.
Green explained, “For years, clearing and execution were separate worlds, with little communication—until something went wrong. Now, the industry is recognizing the need for real-time, bi-directional data sharing.”
Instead of post-trade uncertainty, TT’s platform ensures visibility into the trade lifecycle. “Traders can now track whether their trades are in the correct accounts, if they’ve passed validation, and if they’ve cleared successfully,” he added.
Llewellyn-Jones pointed out that this real-time data integration is critical as markets move toward shorter settlement cycles. “The futures industry is in many ways ahead of the curve,” he said. “Now, with equities moving to T+1 and central clearing expanding for government bonds, instant access to post-trade data is more essential than ever.”
While AI is transforming trading, both Green and Llewellyn-Jones emphasized that it is augmenting human decision-making—not replacing it.
“AI is the next evolution of automation,” Llewellyn-Jones explained. “Markets have consistently introduced tools—screens, algos, smart order routers, data aggregation. AI enhances efficiency and decision-making, rather than replacing traders.”
One major AI application at TT is market surveillance and anomaly detection. “AI excels at spotting outliers,” Green said. “Just like AI in medicine detects anomalies in scans, we use AI to flag unusual trading activity—guiding professionals on where to focus.”
Beyond surveillance, AI is boosting operational efficiency across TT. “AI isn’t taking jobs—it’s making people more effective,” Green noted. “Our developers use AI to code faster, our legal team uses AI to review contracts more efficiently. The key is knowing how to leverage AI as a value-add.”
Llewellyn-Jones added that AI is also creating new roles, particularly in data analytics. “With our acquisition of Abel Noser, we can analyze massive datasets across multiple asset classes in minutes instead of hours. This has opened up demand for quantitative analysts and data scientists—jobs that didn’t exist in the same way a decade ago.”
Looking ahead, TT aims to integrate execution, clearing, and post-trade functions into a seamless, data-driven ecosystem. “The data that is currently siloed across execution, middle office, and back office needs to be unified,” Green said. “By making this data accessible throughout the trade lifecycle, we provide unmatched transparency and efficiency.”
Outgoing CEO Keith Todd reinforced TT’s commitment to innovation: “We’ve evolved from an execution management system (EMS) provider to a powerhouse in capital markets. We work closely with FIA to strengthen the industry, reduce technology costs, and improve market efficiency. As I transition leadership to Justin Llewellyn-Jones, TT remains committed to customer-driven innovation.”
