Information Technologies

The Exchange is a company with advanced IT infrastructure across trading, clearing and risk management. The Group has a major focus on upgrading its technological infrastructure and providing reliable, high-quality services. The Exchange’s trading and settlement services are on par with those of leading international trading venues, and are based on state-of-the-art IT platforms.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Group’s computing capacities are located in two advanced data centres (DCs) — DataSpace, the main centre, which holds Tier III certification; and M1, the backup centre.

Failsafe technologies at the network and hardware levels allow for maximum seamless system switching both inside the two data centres and between the main and backup locations.

The same approach is applied to backing up clients’ connections: interfaces with communication service providers are switched between data centres automatically. MOEX uses the most advanced server and network hardware across its platforms, including ultra-low latency network loops and optimised computing capacities for on-line computation in trading systems. In 2020, the Exchange implemented a phased replacement of the network technology stack in both data centres and office buildings, aimed at further developing software-defined networks, introduced a separate type of collocation zone network connection for high-speed FIFO links and completely revised the concept of fibre optic links between points of presence to ensure higher data replication speeds.

RELIABILITY MANAGEMENT AND SWITCH TO REMOTE WORKING

Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) announcement of a new coronavirus pandemic, 90% of Exchange staff were moved to remote work within three days.

However, all critical operations were carried out from the office, observing all precautionary measures. A robust infrastructure and rapid adaptation to the new mode of operation helped maintain the availability rate at 99.99%.

TRANSITION TO OPEN TECHNOLOGY

In 2020, the Exchange introduced new projects based on open-source products, which is a global trend. Projects using open-source technologies include the Marketplace, Unified Customer Registration and the Processes Management Center.

In addition, an important step is the transition to open technology of Kafka and Artemis. This has reduced the costs of operating the exchange hardware and software system and added flexibility to the new solutions based on corporate data bus.

TECHNOLOGICAL ACCESS TO TRADING

The fastest trading protocol to access the Equity & Bond and FX Markets

In 2020, the banks, brokers, algorithmic and high-frequency traders placing their equipment in the data center of the Exchange became able to connect to trading on the Equity & Bond and FX Markets by using the new FIFO MFIX Trade service. The new interface features the operation of a First In, First Out (FIFO) algorithm strictly applied to process orders at the exchange gateway with the more than 99% probability. This helps substantially improve transparency and predictability of Moscow Exchange’s IT infrastructure operations.

Access to the Derivatives Market

A prototype of the new high-speed SBE DirectFlow gateway, which is the next generation of market data distribution services replacing the current FAST protocol, was launched. The service returns market data in less than 100 microseconds, thus respecting the principle of public data first.

Supporting clients in the transition to remote working

In connection with the mass transfer of employees of banks, brokers and other companies to remote work in spring 2020, Moscow Exchange offered preferential terms for the provision of new technical access IDs for MOEX Trade series terminals on the Equity & Bond, FX and Money Markets. All companies involved in trading were able to provide their employees with the necessary workplaces in full and at no extra cost. Preferential terms for the issuing of new identifiers made it easier and cheaper for traders to switch their own infrastructure to remote operation.