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High-speed trader Virtu to pay $1bn for broker ITG

Acquisition furthers the fast-trading firm's move into working for external institutional investors, as well as trading for itself

Douglas Cifu (centre), the chief executive of Virtu Financial, pictured with then-Nasdaq CEO Bob Greifeld (right) and Virtu founder Vincent Viola (right) in 2015
Douglas Cifu (centre), the chief executive of Virtu Financial, pictured with then-Nasdaq CEO Bob Greifeld (right) and Virtu founder Vincent Viola (right) in 2015 Photo: Getty Images

Virtu Financial has agreed to acquire Investment Technology Group for $1bn, cementing the electronic proprietary trader’s ambition to expand into broking.

Proprietary traders such as Virtu typically buy and sell shares and other assets on their own account. However, the acquisition of ITG deepens Virtu’s move into trading for institutional investors, following its acquisition of trading rival KCG Holdings last year for $1.4bn.

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