The Proprietary Trading Management Insight Report is free to read for executives at proprietary trading firms, to request your copy visit: https://www.acuiti.io/proprietary-trading-management-insight-report-q1-2026/.
London – 12 March 2026: A third of proprietary trading firms are set to move to a more office-based working model over the next two years as half of firms that offer flexible working report that productivity has been negatively impacted, the latest Proprietary Trading Management Insight Report has found.
The quarterly Proprietary Trading Management Insight Report, which was released today and is produced in partnership with Avelacom, is based on a survey of the Acuiti Proprietary Trading Expert Network, which comprises senior proprietary trading executives around the world. The report provides insights into the key trends facing the community.
This quarter’s report explored attitudes and approaches to flexible working and found that 81% of proprietary trading firms had some level of flexibility in working from home for staff. However, while 53% of the firms that deployed flexible working arrangements said that it had improved retention, 47% said that productivity had worsened – and just 20% said that it had improved.
As a result, 34% of firms that offered flexible working said that they would implement a more office-based structure over the next two years.
“This quarter’s Insight Report finds that proprietary trading firms, in line with other firms in the financial sector, are planning to move to more office-based working,” says Ross Lancaster, head of research at Acuiti.
“This is unlikely to mean a full return to five days a week for all roles though. The survey found that many firms offer significantly more flexibility for roles in development and software than in trading for example. However, there is clear evidence that firms are moving closer to pre-covid working arrangements.”
Liquidity conditions in 2025
This quarter’s report also surveyed firms on liquidity conditions and found a positive picture for 2025. Most respondents described overall liquidity as good, with 19% of respondents saying it was very good and just 15% saying liquidity in the asset classes they trade was poor last year. Sentiment was particularly positive among US-based firms, where more than 90% of respondents said liquidity was either good or very good.
Several structural factors were behind the positive liquidity profile. The most commonly cited factor was exchange policy and incentive design, including fee structures, liquidity programmes and improvements to market structure that encouraged participation and market depth. Investment in technology was also cited as a factor in improved liquidity.
However, the report also identified emerging concerns in areas where liquidity has weakened. The dominant factor cited by firms that reported poorer liquidity conditions was a growth in off-book trading activity.
This trend was particularly pronounced in Europe, where a large majority of respondents reported weaker liquidity linked to the rise in off-venue trading. The report warns that if more trading shifts to bilateral or off-venue channels, displayed depth in order books will decline and price discovery may weaken.
“The report highlights that improved trading technology is increasingly contributing to liquidity, based on interviews with market participants,” says Aleksey Larichev, CEO of Avelacom. “This is the same for all asset classes, regardless of the geography.”
Other key findings in this quarters’ report include:
- Costs continue to rise for proprietary trading firms: 85% of firms reported an increase in overall costs during 2025, with exchange fees, technology and staffing cited as the main drivers.
- Digital assets continuing to gain traction: Around half of proprietary trading firms that do not currently trade digital assets are considering doing so in 2026, but fewer than one in 10 are definitely committed to entering the market.
- Financial performance across the proprietary trading market was strong in 2025, with more than two-thirds of firms reporting improved profitability compared with 2024.
- Engagement with onshore Chinese derivatives markets remains limited by proprietary trading firms with 18% of firms currently trading the market. However, over a third of firms in the network are considering trading onshore China.
Download full report here: https://www.acuiti.io/proprietary-trading-management-insight-report-q1-2026/.
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For more information, contact Will Mitting at Acuiti
Tel.: +44 (0) 203 998 9190
Email: willmitting@acuiti.io
About Acuiti
Acuiti is a management intelligence platform designed to provide Senior Industry Professionals in the Derivatives Industry with high-value insight into industry-wide performance and business operations. Acuiti provides a platform through which our exclusive network of Senior Industry Executives can share and source information on day-to-day operational challenges, providing them and their management teams with increased transparency and in-depth analysis to make more informed decisions and benchmark company performance. Financial Institutions benefiting from our services include Banks, Non-bank FCMs, Brokers, Proprietary Trading Firms, Hedge Funds and Asset Managers.
About Avelacom
Avelacom provides global market access through ultra-low-latency connectivity, market data, colocation, and on-demand infrastructure solutions. Our key advantage lies in our full control of proprietary network infrastructure. We design, build, and operate fiber and microwave networks to deliver industry-leading latency performance. Avelacom also supports clients in emerging regions, including Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, offering 99.9% uptime and 24/7 support.