ION has received approval from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to provide its Fidessa trading platform for the exchange’s equity derivatives segment, expanding its footprint in India’s fast-growing futures and options market.
The company has been registered as an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) with BSE following certification that Fidessa’s functionality complies with relevant exchange rules and regulatory standards. The approval enables exchange members to use Fidessa for trading futures and options (F&O) on BSE, including via Direct Market Access (DMA).
The development strengthens ION’s position in India, where derivatives volumes continue to expand and competition among technology vendors intensifies as brokers seek robust, compliant trading infrastructure.
With the new registration, Fidessa now supports BSE’s equity derivatives segment alongside its existing coverage of BSE equities and algorithmic trading. ION also maintains empanelment with the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) for both equities and futures and options.
Exchange members using Fidessa will have access to more than 20 algorithmic trading strategies tailored for the Indian market. The inclusion of DMA functionality allows brokers and institutional participants to route orders directly to the exchange while maintaining compliance and pre-trade risk controls.
Robert Cioffi, Head of Product, Equities at ION, said the empanelment expands the firm’s exchange coverage in India and complements its existing approvals. He described India as a strategic market for the company and noted that the enhanced offering is intended to support the continued growth of Indian capital markets.
BSE, established in 1875 and widely recognised as Asia’s oldest stock exchange, lists more than 5,700 companies. Its derivatives segment has gained increasing attention as trading volumes in equity index and stock derivatives continue to rise across India.
India has emerged as one of the most active derivatives markets globally, driven by retail participation, proprietary trading firms and institutional investors. As volumes scale, exchange members are placing greater emphasis on low-latency execution, algorithmic capabilities and regulatory compliance within integrated trading platforms.
For software providers, empanelment and certification by exchanges are critical to maintaining market access and credibility. Approval as an ISV confirms that a platform’s order management, risk controls and reporting features align with exchange requirements and local regulations.
ION’s Fidessa platform is widely used by brokers and financial institutions globally for equities and derivatives trading. The addition of BSE equity derivatives enhances the firm’s multi-exchange coverage in India, offering clients the ability to manage trading activity across BSE and NSE from a unified system.
ION provides trading and workflow automation software, analytics and consulting services to financial institutions, corporates and public sector entities worldwide. Its expansion in India reflects broader industry efforts to strengthen technology infrastructure in one of the world’s most dynamic capital markets.
The approval underscores the strategic importance of India for global trading technology providers. As derivatives markets deepen and regulatory oversight evolves, demand for certified, scalable platforms is expected to remain strong.
By extending Fidessa’s capabilities to BSE equity derivatives, ION reinforces its presence in a market characterised by high participation and rapid technological adoption. For exchange members, access to multi-venue connectivity and algorithmic tools within a single framework may offer operational efficiencies as trading activity continues to expand.
