A combination of regulatory and commercial pressures will force banks to diversify their electronic trading platforms into new asset classes in the coming years, as more markets move towards competitive e-trading, according to new research published by financial consultancy GreySpark.

The report said banks were switching their e-commerce strategies away from the aggressive acquisition of market share to electronificating processes in order to cut costs. The move comes amid falling trading volumes as clients deleverage and regulatory and compliance spend rises.