E-Trading / Global Credit Trading Benchmark

Global Credit Trading Benchmark

BCG Expand delivers the only dealer-submitted Global Credit Trading Benchmark that captures both voice and electronic corporate bond trading across USD and EUR markets, providing unmatched visibility into the parts of the market where true franchise differentiation occurs.

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The Challenge

  • Voice trading remains opaque and unbenchmarked — internal MIS and TRACE do not provide competitive insight
  • Fragmented workflows between voice, RFQ-in-Comp, RFQ-to-1, and click-to-trade complicate franchise planning
  • Limited visibility into peer activity in long-tenor IG and HY credit where voice dominates
  • True voice-led client relationships are obscured by growth of electronic trading

How we can help

Voice & Electronic Data Capture

We capture monthly dealer-submitted voice and electronic trades across USD and EUR, ensuring accuracy across trade types and credit categories.

Multi-Dimensional Benchmarking

We benchmark performance across issuer, sector, client type, tenor, platform and trade type to uncover actionable growth opportunities.

Insight Delivery & Deep Dives

We deliver heatmaps, ranking tables, issuer and sector deep dives, and strategic insight packs to guide franchise decision-making.

Client success stories

USD IG voice ADV traction - Targeted coverage and incentives improved relative activity.
EUR HY voice share uplift - Pricing and outreach refinements yielded stronger penetration.
Balanced execution uplift - Coverage and messaging realignment improved client execution.
APAC block trade engagement gains - Benchmark-driven sales focus strengthened participation.

Case Studies

Tier-1 Global Dealer

Through the voice franchise benchmark, a global dealer recognised through the voice franchise benchmark that its voice market share in the 10–30Y USD IG segment was significantly below peer averages despite competitive pricing. Internal analysis confirmed that coverage intensity and follow-up cadence were inconsistent across key accounts. Using benchmark insights, the dealer restructured its coverage model to prioritise high-value clients, coordinated more frequent voice outreach, and aligned trader communication protocols with client needs. Within the next quarter, the dealer recorded a measurable uplift in voice trading activity and improved peer-relative share in the targeted segment.

A large European dealer

Using voice franchise benchmarking, a European dealer identified underrepresentation in EUR HY voice trading relative to similarly sized franchises. The benchmark highlighted specific clients and notional bands where engagement lagged. In response, the dealer established a focused HY voice initiative, tailored pricing discussions, and enhanced real time coordination between sales and trading desks. Over subsequent months, the dealer gained traction in previously weak HY buckets and strengthened voice relationships with core institutional accounts.

The Challenge

  • Sales teams lack objective evidence of where competitors outperform in USD vs EUR
  • Fragmented data makes cross-currency comparison unreliable
  • Liquidity dynamics differ sharply by tenor, sector, and trade type — but internal systems struggle to capture it

How we can help

Normalisation & Peer Grouping

We normalise data across IG, HY and Financials, and construct rolling-ADV peer groups to support precise comparison.

Multi-Dimensional Benchmarking

We benchmark performance across issuer, sector, client type, tenor, platform and trade type to uncover actionable growth opportunities.

Insight Delivery & Deep Dives

We deliver heatmaps, ranking tables, issuer and sector deep dives, and strategic insight packs to guide franchise decision-making.

Client success stories

EUR IG voice gap addressed through targeted liquidity initiatives
Rebalanced coverage improved EUR voice activity with real money clients
GBP EM credit participation strengthened via pricing and segmentation changes
AUD/NZD voice engagement improved through currency-focused strategy

Case Studies

European Dealer

A European dealer’s benchmark analysis showed that while its USD IG voice franchise tracked close to peer averages, its EUR IG voice share was materially lower. The currency split insights highlighted specific client types and tenors where engagement was weakest. In response, the dealer formed a dedicated EUR voice taskforce, realigned trader responsibilities, and introduced tailored EUR pricing frameworks. Over subsequent quarters, the dealer recorded an uplift in EUR voice activity and improved overall franchise balance.

A global dealer

Currency split benchmarking highlighted underperformance in EM credit voice activity across GBP- and NOK-denominated instruments. Internal reviews confirmed that coverage efforts were skewed toward core G10 exposures.

With this insight, the dealer reallocated resources and enhanced EM currency pricing support, resulting in improved activity across targeted EM currency buckets.

The Challenge

  • Peers’ penetration across client types (e.g., Real Money, Hedge Funds, Corporates) is not visible through internal MIS
  • Rapid client and product behaviour shifts require accurate peer-aligned intelligence
  • Under-representation in certain product areas (e.g., HY Energy, EM credit) can limit growth

How we can help

Multi-Dimensional Benchmarking

We benchmark performance across issuer, sector, client type, tenor, platform and trade type to uncover actionable growth opportunities.

Insight Delivery & Deep Dives

We deliver heatmaps, ranking tables, issuer and sector deep dives, and strategic insight packs to guide franchise decision-making.

Client success stories

USD IG real money engagement improved through targeted coverage adjustments
Long-dated IG voice activity strengthened via trader focus reallocation
Hedge fund engagement broadened through expanded product coverage
Cross-border voice participation improved via revised client strategy

Case Studies

A global dealer

Client and product benchmarking was used to assess how effectively a voice franchise served different institutional client types across IG and HY products. The analysis revealed strong hedge fund engagement but weaker real money participation in longer-dated IG trades.

Using these insights, the dealer adjusted coverage priorities and refined product-specific sales strategies, resulting in improved voice participation across a broader client base.

A European dealer

Client and product split analysis highlighted disparities in voice trading performance across credit products, with competitive short-dated IG activity but weaker HY and off-the-run participation.

In response, the dealer enhanced trader specialisation and product-specific outreach, driving increased voice activity in previously underrepresented products.

Exhibits

Fixed income market evolution

How can broker dealers navigate the intricate credit trading market and position themselves for success?

Read report here

"Voice benchmarking is a game-changer — finally we can quantify our real liquidity relationships."

Global Head of Credit Trading

"Understanding our USD vs EUR voice share has reshaped how we deploy our sales coverage."

European Head of Credit Sales

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