by Stockwatch Business Reporter
Canadian alternative trading systems captured 32.3 per cent of volume during the week ended Sept. 21, 2012, leaving the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange with 67.7 per cent. Alpha Exchange traded an average of 146 million shares a day for 15.2 per cent of volume. Chi-X Canada traded an average of 105 million shares a day for 10.9 per cent of volume. Dark pool Match Now came third with 19.14 million shares or 1.9 per cent, slightly edging out Pure Trading, which handled 19.12 million shares or 1.9 per cent. Then there was Omega ATS with 10.6 million shares or 1.1 per cent, and TMX Select with 9.6 million shares or 1 per cent.
Looking at securities listed only on the TSX, the exchange handled 63 per cent of volume. Alpha captured 16.4 per cent, Chi-X captured a higher-than-usual 13.1 per cent, and together the other ATSs were left with 7.5 per cent.
Tom Kloet's speech last week, which confirmed that Alpha's Jos Schmitt was "still part of team," was absolutely correct. Mr. Schmitt was still part of the team, and by the same standard he still is. The only change is that he has resigned and will depart on Oct. 31. Alpha Exchange's listings officer, Randee Pavalow, will join him. Since Alpha was acquired by the new TMX Group, it has been reporting to Kevan Cowan, the TMX's head of equities. Mr. Cowan says he will announce Mr. Schmitt's replacement sometime before Oct. 31, and points out that he has been working on integrating Alpha since the beginning of August.