Citadel Securities was founded in 2002 as a part of the Citadel enterprise. Over the years, it has evolved to become one of the world’s largest market makers, distinct from Citadel’s asset management business. The firm is known for its commitment to leveraging technology and quantitative methods to provide liquidity in various financial markets.

Market Making

One of Citadel Securities’ primary functions is market making. They facilitate trades for buyers and sellers in a variety of asset classes including equities, options, treasuries, and foreign exchange. Their presence is substantial; for instance, they are often responsible for a significant portion of daily trading volume in U.S. equities.

Algorithmic Trading

Citadel Securities uses sophisticated algorithms for high-frequency trading. These algorithms are designed to execute large orders quickly and efficiently, thereby minimizing market impact and optimizing their market executions.

Retail Order Flow

One of the unique aspects of Citadel Securities is its role in handling a large volume of retail order flow. They have relationships with retail brokerages like Robinhood, which route customer orders through Citadel Securities for execution.

Technological Infrastructure

Technology is a cornerstone of Citadel Securities’ operations. They invest heavily in cutting-edge hardware and software to ensure speedy and efficient trade execution. The firm’s reliance on technology also extends to data analytics and machine learning, which they use for optimizing trading strategies.

Influence and Partnerships

Citadel Securities has strong relationships with institutional clients, exchanges, and regulators. They are members of several major stock and derivatives exchanges, and their trading activities often set the tone for market dynamics.

Global Presence

Citadel Securities also has a global footprint, with offices in key financial centers similar to Citadel LLC. These locations enable them to tap into markets across different geographies and time zones, thus maintaining a near-constant presence in the global financial markets.