Electronic Bond Trading Finally Coming of Age in Remote-Work Era

The corporate bond market has been one of the laggards in electronic trading trends as traders cling to their old ways. But the pandemic seems to be finally breaking those habits, according to a new report.

Almost a third of investment-grade bonds traded electronically last year, up from 26% in 2019, as trading floors went virtual and digital venues expanded their product offerings, Greenwich Associates said in a report this week. That number could jump to 40% in 2021 as the market continues to embrace electronic workflows, said Kevin McPartland, the firm’s head of research for market structure and ...