Trading giant Virtu backs plan for IEX's proposed options exchange

Trading and market making firm Virtu Financial threw its support behind a proposal by IEX to launch a new U.S. options exchange, saying the initiative could promote competition and innovation.

In a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated July 9, Virtu called IEX's proposed platform a "well-intentioned" step that could benefit retail investors and enhance transparency.

IEX has proposed an options exchange that would introduce a 350-microsecond delay on trades, a speed bump aimed at curbing advantages held by high-frequency traders and leveling the playing field for other market participants.

However, the plan has sparked debate. Market maker Citadel Securities and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association urged the SEC to reject the proposal, arguing that the speed bump could affect market dynamics and price discovery.

Virtu, meanwhile, said it supported efforts that "enhance the investor experience".

"We believe that the introduction of new trading venues has the potential to promote competition, foster innovation and possibly deliver better trading outcomes for all market participants," Virtu wrote.

Besides Virtu, IEX's proposal has also garnered support from the Chicago Trading Company, All Options USA and HAP Trading.

"We appreciate that a broad range of industry participants and market makers are willing to go on the record in support of our options filing, and in particular, the feature that protects market makers from latency arbitrage," IEX's Chief Market Policy Officer John Ramsay said.

"Our exchange is designed to foster competition and deliver better prices for investors — a theme that is consistently reflected in their endorsements."