A J Bell Securities, a UK-based stockbroking, dealing, settlement and custody services provider, has connected to Calastone’s independent cross-border transaction network. Calastone offers electronic order routing between fund buyers and fund managers whatever their preferred format and provides automated net settlement services through trade order matching.
By connecting to Calastone, A J Bell is expected to benefit from Calastone’s automated approach enabling transactions to be processed using ISO 20022 message standards irrespective of how they are submitted. This unified approach delivers considerable straight- through-processing efficiencies for all Calastone participants.
Distributors can connect directly using their existing technology and benefit from Calastone’s Execution Management System (EMS), which provides a consolidated view of all order flow at any stage of the lifecycle, from order through to settlement. This enables firms to react to exceptions quickly and efficiently offering reduction of settlement risk and opportunities for further client service improvement, said Calastone.
Steve Lawrance, client services director of A J Bell Securities, said: “We are pleased to be working with Calastone. They have delivered immediate benefits for us in the funds order processing chain. Their flexible approach is a positive step towards removing manual interfaces and increasing our efficiencies and risk controls. Calastone’s ability to connect the entire funds market without investment in costly technology infrastructure will increase our STP levels significantly.”