Data Quality Emerges as Primary Challenge in Bond Markets

Fixed-income markets face persistent data quality issues, with 56% of market participants citing it as their top concern according to a SIX survey. Integration difficulties (47%) and transparency gaps (34%) compound operational challenges in bond trading environments.

Discrepancies range from reference data mismatches delaying settlements to pricing inconsistencies in illiquid instruments. "Market participants face mounting pressure as soaring data volumes and demand for faster decisions reshape fixed-income markets," notes Swati Bhatia of SIX.

The industry shows progress toward automation, with 56% of firms achieving partial automation in data management and 31% reporting mature automated workflows. API-based data delivery (preferred by 53%) now dominates as institutions prioritize coverage breadth, transparency, and auditability in provider selection.