Regulatory Compliance with kdb+

In the fast-paced world of global finance, regulatory compliance is always a major concern. A global investment bank knew it needed to ensure its equities trading applications were compliant with the new Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) regulations but didn’t know where to start. MiFID II demands a higher level of transparency in post-trade activities and posed a significant hurdle for the bank’s existing systems. 

The bank’s legacy analytics platform would need to be upgraded to meet the new, more stringent requirements. Since accuracy and reliability are non-negotiable elements of MiFID II compliance, that meant implementing a system capable of storing more detailed order and execution data and maximising precise timestamping throughout the order lifecycle.  

Updating all these legacy systems would be no mean feat. The bank recognised the complexities involved and turned to Version 1 to design a post-trade equities analytics platform utilising its expertise in kdb+ technology. Kdb+ is renowned for its ability to handle large volumes of time-series data with unbeatable speed and efficiency, making it an ideal fit for the bank’s needs. 

We built a team of kdb+ experts who also had extensive equities trading experience. Working closely with the bank’s internal teams – in particular legal and compliance – we meticulously analysed the bank’s existing applications and workflows to gain a comprehensive understanding of its operations. Combining this understanding with our technical prowess, we delivered a powerful, MiFID II-compliant equities trading solution. The new platform meets the necessary regulatory requirements and seamlessly integrates with the bank’s existing systems, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to its operations. 

What we did: 

• Designed and implemented a post-trade equities analytics platform using kdb+ technology 
• Ensured full compliance with MiFID II regulatory requirements 
• Provided comprehensive documentation for future external audits 
• Integrated the new platform with the bank’s existing systems 
• Enhanced post-trade transparency with detailed order and execution data storage 
• Implemented precise timestamping throughout the order lifecycle