Barclays has expanded the number of indices available on its online pricing and execution platform for wealth managers and private banks, BARX COMET, to capitalise on the increased number and value of bespoke trades transacted on the system.
"We have witnessed a significant uplift in activity, particularly in recent weeks, as investors have begun to add risk to portfolios by taking advantage of the attractive pricing of structured products on the BARX COMET platform," said David Wood, director, Investor Solutions at Barclays. "Barclays [...] has now increased to ten the number of indices the platform offers with new additions including the Dow Jones, OMX S30, CAC 40, Russell 2000 and Eurostoxx indices to enable wealth managers to express a more global view when pricing and executing bespoke structured product trades."
Barclays has also added a number of liquid exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to BARX COMET to bolster its range of underlying reference markets, particularly in emerging markets underlyings which - according to the bank - have seen strong client demand. New additions include the iShares MSCI EM (EEM), iShares FTSE China 25 (FXI) and iShares S&P Latam 40 (ILF).
In total, BARX COMET now offers a choice of 41 ETFs, taking to 900 the number of different underlyings (stocks, ETFs and indices) accessible through the platform.
The total amount traded on BARX COMET by European investors was 94% higher in August 2012 compared to August 2011, with the number of trades placed up 44%.