E-Crossnet, the institutional crossing network founded by Barclays Global Investors and Merrill Lynch Mercury Asset Management, will this week begin live operation of its crossing network. Nigel Foster, chief executive of E-Crossnet, says that participants which have the requisite technological capabilities could be allowed to use the system from March 23, when the network is officially launched, and that several institutions will be operating live by the end of the month.

This comes hot on the heels of an announcement by Posit, an alternative crossing network run by ITG Europe, that its continental European service will be launched on March 30.