7 Boston Trading Firms Dominating the Financial Landscape

Written by Olivia McClure
Published on Nov. 19, 2023

As one of the oldest cities in the nation, Boston has played host to many of the most important events in American history. Boasting some of the world’s most revered universities and organizations, Boston has been at the forefront of American innovation since its humble beginnings. In a city built upon the ambitious dreams of a fledgling nation, Bostonians know firsthand that success comes at a price — and it’s one they’re willing to pay for. 

Since its inception, Boston has played a leading role in the nation’s financial history. For that reason, it seems only fitting that many of the nation’s most prominent trading firms call the city home. With global names like Piper Jaffray and Akuna Capital, the city’s assortment of firms is sure to catch the eye of any inquiring financier. If foreign exchange markets and trading algorithms are what you seek, then look no further than these Boston trading firms. 

Top Trading Firms in Boston

  • Domeyard LP
  • Akuna Capital
  • Boston Energy Trading and Marketing
  • Bracebridge Capital
  • Imperial Capital
  • JonesTrading Institutional Services
  • Piper Jaffray

 

Domeyard LP

Founded: 2012

What they do: Initially founded by a team of young academics from MIT and Harvard, Domeyard LP is a hedge fund, Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) and Commodity Pool Operator (CPO). The firm leverages advances in high-performance computing and data analysis to implement trading algorithms across a wide variety of assets, including equities, fixed income, futures, commodities and energies.

Who they work with: The Founders of Acadian Asset Management, Renaissance Technologies, SoftBank Group, First Round Capital and Renren Inc.

 

Akuna Capital

Founded: 2011

What they do: With several offices across the globe, Akuna Capital specializes in tech and trading. Boasting a team of mathematicians, statisticians and technologists, the firm’s trading department has a Quant Trading and Research Team, which scientifically creates trading strategies by combining quantitative expertise with an understanding of derivatives and financial markets. Akuna also has a team dedicated to data analysis and infrastructure comprised of experts in Big Data and machine learning, which works on identifying new strategies while optimizing old ones, as well as a development team that builds new tools to meet the needs of a competitive trading environment. 

Who they work with: Global companies and institutions.

 

Boston Energy Trading and Marketing

Founded: 2014

What they do: Boston Energy Trading and Marketing provides asset management and optimization services to clients throughout North America. Covering competitive power markets in the New England, Midwest and western markets, the firm develops and maintains electric-transmission, gas network and supply and demand models to inform market views for trading opportunities. The firm’s energy managers provide a wide range of services, including position tracking, reporting analysis, structured power and fuels transactions and ISO and regulatory support for client onboarding, new asset registration and ISO testing.

Who they work with: Generation and energy storage owners, and retail power and gas suppliers. 

 

Bracebridge Capital LLC

Founded: 1994

What they do: Bracebridge Capital is a hedge fund manager that pursues investment strategies primarily within the global fixed income markets. The firm is driven by the objectives of capital preservation and absolute return without significant correlation to equity, interest rate and foreign exchange markets. Bracebridge trades a wide range of securities and derivatives with the intention of generating positive returns from pricing inefficiencies.

Who they work with: Endowments, foundations, pension funds and high net worth investors. 

 

Imperial Capital

Founded: 1997

What they do: Imperial Capital is a full-service investment banking firm that offers a wide range of proprietary products and services. Specializing in sales and trading, the firm works with institutional clients to provide research, sales and trading of high yield and distressed debt securities, bank debt, convertible bonds, preferred stock and equities. When working with middle market companies, the firm provides capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, capital structure, restructuring and recapitalization advisory services.

Who they work with: Institutional investors, middle market companies and private equity firms.

 

JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC

Founded: 1975

What they do: As one of the oldest and largest executing equity trading firms in the nation, JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC is dedicated to creating liquidity for institutional and corporate clients on an unconflicted basis. The firm is able to execute tough trades in large, small or mid cap stocks, using a consultative approach in which their traders tailor liquidity creation and execution strategy to each client and order. JonesTrading also specializes in investment banking and capital markets, derivatives, outsourced trading, integrated prime services for hedge fund firms, market color, research and commission management. 

Who they work with: Institutions and hedge funds. 

 

Piper Jaffray

Founded: 1895

What they do: Boasting more than 50 offices around the world, Piper Jaffray is an investment bank and institutional securities firm dedicated to serving clients’ business life cycle needs. With expertise in investment banking, public finance, institutional equities, fixed income and private equity strategies, their services include equity sales and trading, private placements, M&A advisory, corporate and venture services and equity and debt capital markets. The firm’s clients come from a wide range of industries, including healthcare, energy, retail, financial services, cleantech and renewables.

Who they work with: Global companies and institutions.

 

Photos via Shutterstock and social media. This article was originally published in 2019.

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