GMO-Z.com Launches Institutional Prime-of-Prime Service

The new service will be offered under a new brand - Z.com Global Markets.

GMO-Z.com Trade UK Limited, a subsidiary of GMO Financial Holdings Inc., announced this Thursday that it has launched its new institutional prime-of-prime service under a new brand – Z.com Global Markets.

Z.com Global Markets is part of the GMO Internet Group, which includes GMO CLICK Securities Inc, which is one of the worlds largest retail foreign exchange (forex) providers by volume.

The new institutional service specialises in providing liquidity and technology infrastructure. Its services will be offered to regulated brokers, hedge funds and asset managers, private banks and proprietary trading.

Z.com Trade brand moves away from retail

Todays announcement comes at a time when the Z.com Trade brand is stepping away from the retail industry. To date, the company has been offering its service primarily to retail clients. However, the firm has announced that it will no longer be accepting retail clients, and will be ending its service at the end of the year.

Commenting on the launch, Masahiro Funada, the CEO of GMO-Z.com said: I am very excited to announce the launch of Z.com Global Markets, and I believe that with the track record and strong backing of the GMO Internet Group, we are extremely well-positioned to deliver a high-quality prime- of-prime service.

We have an experienced team, and have invested capital in putting together a best-in-class technology and liquidity offering, utilizing our direct relationships with top tier prime brokerages, tier 1 banks, non-bank providers and leading ECN venues.

“With our offering clients will be able to connect to price distribution hubs in LD4, NY4 and TY3 via our institutional-grade GUI and multiple integration points, which will be backed by a comprehensive post-trade reporting system.”

GMO to establish itself in institutional space

Clients of Z.com Global Markets can access curated liquidity pools, which include all of the top 10 EuromoneyTM FX survey 2019 counterparties, the statement said. In addition, the prime-of-prime service will provide direct access to a range of optimized FX, bullion, commodities and equity indices markets.

“Having firmly established our position as the worlds largest retail FX provider, I believe it is time for the group to broaden its reach and establish itself in the institutional space, and the launch of Z.com Global Markets is an important step in this direction,” added Hiroyasu Kito, Group CEO of GMO Financial Holdings.

“We see huge opportunities for growth internationally, and our UK subsidiary is well-positioned to lead the way in establishing the group as a leading global provider of institutional services.”