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by Stockwatch Business Reporter

Alternative trading systems took 31.8 per cent of Canadian trading volume during the week ended Feb. 10, 2012, leaving the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange with 68.1 per cent. Alpha Trading Systems led the pack of Canadian ATSs, trading an average of 161 million shares a day, or 18.1 per cent of volume. Chi-X Canada followed, trading an average of 65.7 million shares a day or 7.4 per cent of volume. Pure Trading took third place with 17.2 million shares or 1.9 per cent. Then there was dark pool Match Now with 16.5 million shares or 1.8 per cent, Omega ATS with 13.1 million shares or 1.4 per cent and TMX Select with 9.2 million shares or 1 per cent.

Looking at securities listed only on the TSX, the exchange handled 63.6 per cent of volume. Alpha took 21.3 per cent, Chi-X took 8.9 per cent and together the other ATSs were left with 6.2 per cent.

On Saturday, March 3, Alpha plans to hold an "exchange readiness simulation." From 8 a.m. ET to 11:30 p.m. ET, Alpha clients can practice connecting to Alpha Exchange as well as entering and receiving orders for Alpha-listed securities. The ATS hopes to launch its exchange on April 1.

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