As markets continue to face unprecedented challenges, the synergy between brokers and liquidity providers has become more vital than ever. In this exclusive interview, Christos Yerasimou, Trading Director at leading global fintech trading company Skilling, reveals how their four-year collaboration with Match-Prime has shaped their success story. From evolving trader behaviours to risk management strategies, the leadership shares valuable insights into what makes a broker-liquidity provider relationship thrive in today’s dynamic trading environment.
In what ways have the Forex market and trader behaviour transformed in recent years? What changes have you observed in your clients’ trading patterns, and how has Skilling adapted to meet these needs?
Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed significant shifts in trader behaviour and expectations, driven by technological advancements, major market events and changing client preferences. Modern traders are no longer content with traditional FX pairs alone—they’re seeking a wider range of assets, including indices, commodities, stocks and cryptocurrencies. This reflects a growing desire to capitalise on international market opportunities. To address these needs, we’ve considerably expanded our product range, adding more exotic FX pairs, popular stocks and crypto CFDs, while simultaneously extending trading hours.
The rise of short-term trading strategies has also been particularly notable. More traders are engaging in scalping and day trading, fueled by market volatility and modern technological tools enabling faster execution. We’ve responded by upgrading our trading infrastructure to reduce latency and improve execution speeds, while introducing advanced platforms that cater to high-frequency traders. Recognising the growing popularity of mobile trading, our app has been enhanced with full platform capabilities, real-time alerts and integrated research tools.
Recently, traders have become more aware of the importance of risk management tools to protect their capital, particularly during fluctuating market conditions. This ties into our broader focus on education and support, where we offer webinars, e-books, video tutorials and market analysis, complemented by account managers and practical learning solutions like demo accounts and social trading features.
Could you share your philosophy at Skilling in managing risk? How do you decide which trades to B-Book and when to hedge risk with a liquidity provider?
At our company, effective risk management is a fundamental pillar of our brokerage strategy. We utilise a dynamic approach that balances internal risk management and external hedging to optimise operational efficiency while ensuring a competitive trading environment in line with best execution requirements.
Our decision-making process is driven by a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, incorporating factors such as profitability, risk exposure, client trading behavior and market conditions. We employ a hybrid risk management model that strategically leverages both methodologies to maintain sustainable operations.
Client Segmentation & Risk Allocation
Our approach to risk management is based on a thorough evaluation of trading patterns, trade size and risk profiles. We typically internalise trades that carry lower risk and profitability potential, allowing us to provide competitive spreads while ensuring business sustainability. Conversely, larger trades or those associated with professional and institutional clients are often hedged via liquidity providers, effectively managing overall market exposure.
Risk Limits & Dynamic Hedging
We have well-defined risk thresholds to assess our exposure before determining when to hedge externally. Positions or instruments exceeding predefined exposure limits are automatically hedged with liquidity providers to maintain risk balance. Our real-time monitoring systems continuously evaluate market dynamics, client activity and exposure levels to ensure that we operate within optimal risk parameters.
By maintaining a structured and adaptable risk framework, we can provide a stable trading environment, effectively manage exposure, and uphold our commitment to both client satisfaction and financial stability.
How does the right liquidity partner support a broker in balancing profitability and risk?
A quality liquidity provider is essential for successful broker operations. They provide access to deep liquidity pools with tight spreads and consistent pricing, ensuring efficient order execution even during extreme volatility. Beyond direct execution advantages, a strong LP offers multiple benefits that indirectly enhance broker performance and competitiveness.
Optimised Market Access & Cost Efficiency
By delivering competitive spreads, LPs help brokers maintain tight bid/ask pricing, making trading more attractive for clients while preserving profitability. A well-structured liquidity partnership reduces trading costs, minimises slippage, and enhances the broker’s ability to capture market share.
Flexible Risk Management & Hedging Strategies
Top-tier LPs provide flexibility in risk management, allowing brokers to choose between full hedging, partial hedging or a hybrid B-Book strategy based on market conditions and exposure. Additionally, leading LPs aggregate liquidity from multiple sources, mitigating single-point liquidity risks and ensuring stability even if one provider experiences disruptions.
Enhanced Transparency & Data-Driven Decision-Making
A strong LP offers real-time reporting and exposure tracking, enabling brokers to monitor net exposure, assess trading patterns and make informed hedging decisions. This results in optimised risk management and greater operational control.
Indirect Benefits: Growth, Client Retention & Reputation
- Increased Client Confidence: Reliable execution and stable spreads improve trader satisfaction, reducing churn and boosting client retention.
- Regulatory Compliance & Risk Resilience: Well-regulated LPs ensure adherence to financial compliance requirements, safeguarding brokers from regulatory risks.
- Scalability & Business Growth: Access to superior liquidity and institutional-grade execution allows brokers to expand their client base, increase trading volumes, and scale operations efficiently.
- Market Differentiation & Competitive Edge: Partnering with a top-tier LP enhances credibility, positioning the broker as a trusted provider with institutional-quality trading conditions.
The right liquidity partner is more than just a provider of execution services—they are a strategic enabler that helps brokers achieve a balance between profitability, risk management and long-term growth. By integrating superior liquidity solutions, advanced hedging mechanisms and operational transparency, brokers can enhance their market positioning, improve client satisfaction and drive sustainable profitability.
Looking four years back, what were the key factors in choosing Match-Prime as your liquidity provider?
The selection of Match-Prime as Skilling’s primary liquidity provider was driven by strategic considerations that aligned perfectly with our goals, client needs and market dynamics. We were looking for a partner offering deep, reliable and stable liquidity across a diverse range of instruments—from traditional FX to global stock indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Our business model also required a hybrid risk management strategy, and we needed an LP that could integrate seamlessly with our systems.
As a regulated broker, we valued Match-Prime’s commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency. Their adherence to European regulatory frameworks, combined with competitive pricing structures and clear commission models facilitates the optimisation of our operations and the maintenance of cost-effectiveness for our clients. The company’s flexible pricing approach allows us to manage costs with greater efficiency.
What do you think has been key to the success of your collaboration with Match-Prime?
Over the past four years, financial markets have seen unprecedented volatility driven by unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic, surging inflation and geopolitical tensions. Match-Prime supported us during these high-impact events by maintaining stable liquidity and tight spreads. This enabled us to effectively manage our A-Book/B-Book strategies, balancing risk exposure and profitability while continuing to deliver value to clients. Match-Prime’s ultra-fast execution capabilities, powered by their internal infrastructure and direct market access, also proved crucial, helping us minimise slippage, provide a competitive trading experience for our clients and sustain our growing trading volumes.
The success of our partnership stems from a foundation of mutual trust and complete transparency. We maintain open communication regarding pricing, execution quality and risk-sharing models. With regular performance reviews, real-time reporting on trade flow, fees, liquidity flow and margin usage, as well as open feedback, we always align on priorities. Match-Prime’s dedicated account managers and 24/7 technical support ensure quick resolution of all issues.
What truly sets this partnership apart is our shared commitment to sustainable growth. Rather than pursuing short-term gains, both companies prioritise long-term stability and responsible business practices. Ongoing investments in technology, liquidity and risk management systems position us to continue growing together as market leaders.
