NYSE Euronext has announced a set of enhancements designed to increase liquidity and market quality in exchange-traded products (ETPs) on its NYSE Arca and NYSE MKT platforms.

NYSE Euronext has introduced a number of trading and liquidity enhancements for ETPs designed to increase liquidity, offer greater choice and enhance customer experience.

On May 5, 2014, NYSE MKT will begin trading certain non-equities based ETPs listed on other markets, including NYSE Arca, through the ‘Unlisted Trading Privileges’ (UTP) program, creating a substantial new liquidity pool supported by designated market makers.

Additionally, NYSE Arca has received regulatory approval from the SEC to introduce the ‘Crowd Participant Program’ pilot, which will provide issuers of new and already-listed ETPs with an opportunity to utilize an alternative incentive program designed to encourage daily quoting activity. NYSE Arca also recently announced the commencement of its ‘Retail Liquidity Program’ to encourage price improvement for individual investors’ retail order flow.

Together, these initiatives offer a range of potential benefits to all participants in the growing ETP marketplace.

“These enhancements will help increase liquidity and market quality for Exchange Traded Products listed on NYSE Arca by providing issuers, traders and retail customers with greater choice and flexibility,” said Laura Morrison, Head of Global Index & Exchange Traded Products at NYSE Euronext.  “As the leading exchange group for the listing and trading of ETPs, we will continue to introduce programs focused on market quality that enhance the experience of our customers.”

NYSE Arca is the leading US exchange for the listing and trading of ETPs with over 50 issuers and 1,434 ETPs representing over $1.6 trillion of combined assets under management. NYSE Arca continues to lead the market in ETP liquidity, setting the National Best Bid and Offer in all ETPs approximately 90% of the time.