Bloomberg announced that VCON, the firm’s voice trade confirmation system for cash and derivative instruments, is the first to connect buy-side and sell‐side firms to multiple central clearing counterparties (CCPs) for interest rate swaps (IRS) central clearing.
Bloomberg also announced that Citadel LLC, Freddie Mac and PIMCO are among the firms now using Bloomberg’s VCON industry workflow solution to connect to CME Clearing. Other clearing houses already connected via the Bloomberg tool are the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) & CME Clearing for Credit Derivatives, and the International Derivatives Clearing Group (IDCG) for IRS. Clients also have access to LCH.Clearnet’s Swapclear service through Bloomberg VCON’s integration with MarkitServ.
Bloomberg’s VCON is a multi‐asset class system that allows for all post‐trade communications and affirmations to be completed on one platform. Bloomberg clients are able to match trades, integrate them with Bloomberg analytics, and send those trades directly to all major CCPs for IRS and credit default swaps (CDS).
“Bloomberg’s VCON interface has become a widely‐accepted industry utility, providing clients with a centralized hub for credit derivatives clearing,” said Ben Macdonald, Bloomberg’s Global Head of Fixed Income Trading. “By adding the ability to clear interest rate swaps, Bloomberg provides clients with a comprehensive, easy to use, efficient and cost‐saving solution that will help mitigate market exposure and meet the latest regulatory requirements.”
Kim Taylor, President of CME Clearing, said, “With Monday’s launch, CME Clearing establishes an open standard API for platforms such as Bloomberg, to send affirmed trades directly to a clearing house or CCP. CME Clearing, in conjunction with its technology partners, has set a new standard for STP efficiency. We look forward to working with Bloomberg to deliver an enhanced end‐user clearing experience.”
Bloomberg announced the first‐ever interface to CDS clearing in January, which is already widely in‐use by the firm’s clients. This addition to the VCON interface further builds out Bloomberg’s capabilities as a provider of execution and post‐trade services in the global market for over‐the‐counter (OTC) derivatives. Currently VCON supports all Fixed Income cash products, foreign exchange (FX), Futures, Options, IRS, and CDS, including novations and unwinds.
D.C.