Since ECNs have been experiencing a more competitive environment and at
the same time success over the last few years, the ECN situation has become
very unstable.
They have therefore tried to di¤erentiate as much as possible, leading to high
segmentation. ECNs discriminate by having di¤erent cost structures, clients
portfolio or trading activity. Some of them plan to develop common network by
joining existent networks (B-trade and Posit planning to develop ”SuperECN”
at the end of year 1999). There is increasing pressure for after-hours trading,
worldwide network extension and cost competition.
At the time being, the number of ECNs is evolving rapidly and the future
remains uncertain. Some of them have moved, or are moving, towards a regular
exchange. So far, three of the nine have already applied for exchange status (Island,
Archipelago and NexTrade). Some of them are shifting towards becoming
more brokerage …rms. It is the case of Instinet, a subsidiary of Reuters Group,
which has become member of 17 exchanges and is trading in 40 markets around
the world.