10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

R QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016

or

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

Commission File Number 001-34091

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	52-2230784
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
299 Park Avenue, 10th Floor New York, New York	10171
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(212) 813-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  R    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  R    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	R	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No   R

As of July 28, 2016, the number of shares of the Registrant’s voting common stock outstanding was 37,627,445.

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART I — Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	3
	Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015	4
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015	5
	Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016	6
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015	7
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	33
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	35
PART II — Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	36
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	36
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	36
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	36
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	36
Item 5.	Other Information	36
Item 6.	Exhibits	37

2

PART I — Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Unaudited)

	As of
	June 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	153,275		$	199,728
Investments, at fair value		146,330			84,706
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $178 and $109 as of    June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		62,860			40,459
Goodwill and intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization		63,635			64,142
Furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized    software, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization		31,495			30,897
Prepaid expenses and other assets		13,463			9,880
Deferred tax assets, net		6,057			9,229
Total assets	$	477,115		$	439,041
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities
Accrued employee compensation	$	20,212		$	29,296
Income and other tax liabilities		3,000			4,463
Deferred revenue		2,606			2,312
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		15,146			12,257
Total liabilities		40,964			48,328
Commitments and Contingencies  (Note 10)		—			—
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 4,855,000 shares authorized,    no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and    December 31, 2015		—			—
Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, 110,000 shares    authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of   June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015		—			—
Common stock voting, $0.003 par value, 110,000,000 shares    authorized, 40,087,466 shares and 39,821,519 shares issued    and 37,636,794 shares and 37,409,274 shares outstanding    as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		120			121
Common stock non-voting, $0.003 par value, 10,000,000    shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of    June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015		—			—
Additional paid-in capital		333,279			321,215
Treasury stock - Common stock voting, at cost, 2,450,672    and 2,412,245 shares as of June 30, 2016 and December 31,    2015, respectively		(98,805	)		(93,405	)
Retained earnings		210,606			168,011
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(9,049	)		(5,229	)
Total stockholders’ equity		436,151			390,713
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	477,115		$	439,041

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues
Commissions	$	86,239	$	66,412	$	165,332	$	133,430
Information and post-trade services		8,586		7,632		16,365		15,311
Investment income		517		190		935		373
Other		1,297		1,257		2,580		3,148
Total revenues		96,639		75,491		185,212		152,262
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits		25,815		20,593		50,342		41,767
Depreciation and amortization		4,540		4,603		9,221		9,215
Technology and communications		4,277		3,967		8,581		8,305
Professional and consulting fees		4,245		3,011		8,107		6,293
Occupancy		1,225		1,232		2,386		2,224
Marketing and advertising		1,824		1,764		3,602		2,956
General and administrative		4,162		3,262		8,052		5,941
Total expenses		46,088		38,432		90,291		76,701
Income before income taxes		50,551		37,059		94,921		75,561
Provision for income taxes		17,425		12,821		32,832		26,730
Net income	$	33,126	$	24,238	$	62,089	$	48,831
Net income per common share
Basic	$	0.90	$	0.66	$	1.69	$	1.33
Diluted	$	0.88	$	0.64	$	1.65	$	1.30
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.26	$	0.20	$	0.52	$	0.40
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		36,876		36,699		36,826		36,703
Diluted		37,748		37,642		37,710		37,634

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	33,126		$	24,238		$	62,089		$	48,831
Net cumulative translation adjustment and foreign    currency exchange hedge, net of tax of $2,089, $(166), $4,101    and $(160), respectively		(1,804	)		(266	)		(4,041	)		(316	)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale,    net of tax of $21, $(43), $136 and $(4), respectively		34			(69	)		221			(6	)
Comprehensive Income	$	31,356		$	23,903		$	58,269		$	48,509

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

							Treasury
							Stock -						Accumulated
	Common			Additional			Common						Other			Total
	Stock			Paid-In			Stock			Retained			Comprehen-			Stockholders’
	Voting			Capital			Voting			Earnings			sive Loss			Equity
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	121		$	321,215		$	(93,405	)	$	168,011		$	(5,229	)	$	390,713
Net income		—			—			—			62,089			—			62,089
Cumulative translation adjustment and foreign currency    exchange hedge, net of tax		—			—			—			—			(4,041	)		(4,041	)
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale,    net of tax		—			—			—			—			221			221
Stock-based compensation		—			6,937			—			—			—			6,937
Exercise of stock options		—			2,138			—			—			—			2,138
Withholding tax payments on restricted stock vesting    and stock option exercises		(1	)		(5,584	)		—			—			—			(5,585	)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		—			8,573			—			—			—			8,573
Repurchases of common stock		—			—			(5,400	)		—			—			(5,400	)
Cash dividend on common stock		—			—			—			(19,494	)		—			(19,494	)
Balance at June 30, 2016	$	120		$	333,279		$	(98,805	)	$	210,606		$	(9,049	)	$	436,151

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	62,089		$	48,831
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		9,221			9,215
Stock-based compensation expense		6,937			6,025
Deferred taxes		307			858
Other		646			1,201
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) in accounts receivable		(22,677	)		(13,197	)
(Increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets		(3,574	)		(5,907	)
(Increase) in corporate debt trading investments		(72,396	)		—
(Increase) in mutual funds held in rabbi trust		(1,284	)		—
(Decrease) in accrued employee compensation		(9,084	)		(9,201	)
(Decrease) increase in income and other tax liabilities		(1,856	)		1,336
Increase in deferred revenue		294			185
Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		2,708			1,249
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(28,669	)		40,595
Cash flows from investing activities
Available-for-sale investments:
Proceeds from maturities		20,000			15,328
Purchases		(8,065	)		(19,098	)
Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements		(3,904	)		(2,345	)
Capitalization of software development costs		(6,142	)		(4,816	)
Other		99			(4	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		1,988			(10,935	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividend on common stock		(19,313	)		(14,862	)
Exercise of stock options		2,138			990
Withholding tax payments on restricted stock vesting and stock option exercises		(5,585	)		(4,243	)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		8,573			3,755
Repurchases of common stock		(5,400	)		(14,464	)
Net cash (used in) financing activities		(19,587	)		(28,824	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(185	)		(497	)
Cash and cash equivalents
Net (decrease) increase for the period		(46,453	)		339
Beginning of period		199,728			168,924
End of period	$	153,275		$	169,263

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

7

MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Organization and Principal Business Activity

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “MarketAxess”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on April 11, 2000.Through its subsidiaries, MarketAxess operates a leading electronic trading platform that enables fixed-income market participants to efficiently trade corporate bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments using MarketAxess' patented trading technology. Over 1,100 institutional investor and broker-dealer firms are active users of the MarketAxess trading platform, accessing global liquidity in U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds, municipal bonds, credit default swaps and other fixed-income securities. Through its Open Trading™ protocols, MarketAxess executes certain bond transactions between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller in trades which then settle through a third-party clearing broker. MarketAxess also offers a number of trading-related products and services, including: market data to assist clients with trading decisions; connectivity solutions that facilitate straight-through processing; technology services to optimize trading environments; and execution services for exchange-traded fund managers and other clients. Through its Trax® division, MarketAxess also offers a range of pre- and post-trade services, including trade matching, regulatory transaction reporting and market and reference data, across a range of fixed-income products.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. These consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2015 has been derived from audited financial statements not included herein. These unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to Form 10-Q and reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are normal and recurring, and that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. In accordance with such rules and regulations, certain disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted. Interim period operating results may not be indicative of the operating results for a full year.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and money market instruments that are primarily maintained at one major global bank. Given this concentration, the Company is exposed to certain credit risk in relation to its deposits at this bank. The Company defines cash equivalents as short-term interest-bearing investments with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less.

Investments

The Company determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase which are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition on the trade date. Securities are classified as available-for-sale or trading. The Company’s available-for-sale investments are comprised of municipal bonds and investment grade corporate debt securities. Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Trading investments primarily include investment grade corporate debt securities and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses included in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company assesses whether an other-than-temporary impairment loss on the available-for-sale investments has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market conditions. The portion of an other-than-temporary impairment related to credit loss is recorded as a charge in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The remainder is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss if the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security prior to recovery. No charges for other-than-temporary losses were recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

8

Fair Value Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” A three-tiered hierarchy for determining fair value has been established that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used in fair value calculations. The three levels of inputs are defined as Level 1 (unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets), Level 2 (inputs that are observable in the marketplace other than those inputs classified in Level 1) and Level 3 (inputs that are unobservable in the marketplace). The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of its money market funds, securities available-for-sale, trading securities and foreign currency forward contracts. All other financial instruments are short-term in nature and the carrying amount is reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at approximate fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

All accounts receivable have contractual maturities of less than one year and are derived from trading-related fees and commissions and revenues from products and services. The Company continually monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon the historical collection experience and specific collection issues that have been identified. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are charged to bad debt expense, which is included in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Depreciation and Amortization

Fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. The Company uses the straight-line method of depreciation over three to seven years. The Company amortizes leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the remaining term of the lease.

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with the development of internal use software, including among other items, employee compensation and related benefits and third party consulting costs at the point at which the conceptual formulation, design and testing of possible software project alternatives have been completed. Once the product is ready for its intended use, such costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years. The Company reviews the amounts capitalized for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable.

Cash Provided as Collateral

Cash is provided as collateral for broker-dealer clearing accounts. Cash provided as collateral is included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Contracts

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using exchange rates at the end of the period; revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly rates. Gains and losses on foreign currency translation are a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Transaction gains and losses are recorded in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its net investment in its U.K. subsidiaries. Gains and losses on these transactions are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Revenue Recognition

The majority of the Company’s revenues are derived from commissions for trades executed on its platform and distribution fees that are billed to its broker-dealer clients on a monthly basis. The Company also derives revenues from information and post-trade services, investment income and other income.

9

Commission revenue. Commissions are generally calculated as a percentage of the notional dollar volume of bonds traded on the platform and vary based on the type, size, yield and maturity of the bond traded. Under the Company’s transaction fee plans, bonds that are more actively traded or that have shorter maturities are generally charged lower commissions, while bonds that are less actively traded or that have longer maturities generally command higher commissions. For trades that the Company executes between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller, the Company earns the commission through the difference in price between the two matched principal trades. Fee programs for certain products include distribution fees which are recognized monthly.

Information and post-trade services. The Company generates revenue from information services provided to our broker-dealer clients, institutional investor clients and data-only subscribers. Information services are invoiced monthly, quarterly or annually. When billed in advance, revenues are deferred and recognized monthly on a straight-line basis. The Company also generates revenue from regulatory transaction reporting and trade matching services. Revenue is recognized in the period the services are provided.

Technology products and services. The Company generates revenues from professional consulting services, technology software licenses and maintenance and support services.  Revenue is generally recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is considered probable. Technology products and services revenue is reported in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Initial set-up fees. The Company enters into agreements with its broker-dealer clients pursuant to which the Company provides access to its platform through a non-exclusive and non-transferable license. Broker-dealer clients may pay an initial set-up fee, which is typically due and payable upon execution of a dealer agreement. The initial set-up fee, if any, varies by agreement. Revenue is recognized over the initial term of the agreement, which is generally two years. Initial set-up fees are reported in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards based on their estimated fair values measured as of the grant date. These costs are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period, with an offsetting increase to additional paid-in capital.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recognized against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized in future years. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The total cost of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash flows, discount rates, growth rates and asset lives.

The Company operates as a single reporting unit. Subsequent to an acquisition, goodwill no longer retains its identification with a particular acquisition, but instead becomes identifiable with the entire reporting unit. As a result, all of the fair value of the Company is available to support the value of goodwill. An impairment review of goodwill is performed on an annual basis, at year-end, or more frequently if circumstances change. Intangible assets with definite lives, including purchased technologies, customer relationships and other intangible assets, are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to 15 years. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the existence of a possible impairment.

10

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to common stock by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, the weighted-average shares outstanding of common stock reflects the dilutive effect that could occur if convertible securities or other contracts to issue common stock were converted into or exercised for common stock.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Out-of-Period Adjustments

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company determined that it had incorrectly recorded deferred taxes for the cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) that arises from converting the local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars.  Upon making a permanent reinvestment assertion on unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries effective January 1, 2013, the Company should have eliminated any deferred tax balances derived from the CTA balance. The Company also determined that gains and losses on the foreign currency forward contracts used to hedge the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries were not appropriately considered as taxable income or expense in the consolidated tax returns.  The Company assessed these errors and determined that they were not material to previous reporting periods.  Therefore, the Company recorded these items as out-of-period adjustments in the three months ended March 31, 2016 by decreasing deferred tax assets by $3.1 million, decreasing other comprehensive income by $2.1 million and increasing prepaid expenses and other assets by $1.0 million in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 is intended to require timelier recording of credit losses with respect to loans and other financial instruments.   The ASU will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”) and has subsequently issued a series of modifying ASUs that will not change the core principle of the guidance stated in ASU 2014-09. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. The modifying ASUs include: (i) ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”, issued in May 2016; (ii) (ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”, issued in April 2016; and (iii) ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)”, issued in March 2016.   The ASUs issued in 2016 will have the same effective date and transition requirements as the new revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09.  The Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 and its subsequent updates on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects related to the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-09 on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). The guidance affects the accounting for leases and provides for a lessee model that brings substantially all leases onto the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

11

3. Net Capital Requirements

Certain U.S. subsidiaries of the Company are registered as a broker-dealer or swap execution facility and therefore are subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These rules contain minimum net capital requirements, as defined in the applicable regulations, and also may require a significant part of the registrants’ assets be kept in relatively liquid form. Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K. or Ontario Securities Commission in Canada and must maintain financial resources, as defined in the applicable regulations, in excess of the applicable financial resources requirement. As of June 30, 2016, each of the Company’s subsidiaries that are subject to these regulations had net capital or financial resources in excess of their minimum requirements. As of June 30, 2016, the Company’s subsidiaries maintained aggregate net capital and financial resources that was $116.8 million in excess of the required levels of $10.0 million.

Each of the Company’s U.S. and foreign regulated subsidiaries are subject to local regulations which generally prohibit repayment of borrowings from the Company or affiliates, paying cash dividends, making loans to the Company or affiliates or otherwise entering into transactions that result in a significant reduction in regulatory net capital or financial resources without prior notification to or approval from such regulated entity’s principal regulator.

4. Fair Value Measurements

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as categorized based on the hierarchy described in Note 2.

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Money market funds	$	36,970	$	—	$	—	$	36,970
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt		—		72,650		—		72,650
Trading securities
Corporate debt		—		72,396		—		72,396
Mutual funds held in rabbi trust		—		1,284		—		1,284
Foreign currency forward position		—		5,518		—		5,518
Total	$	36,970	$	151,848	$	—	$	188,818
As of December 31, 2015
Money market funds	$	61,913	$	—	$	—	$	61,913
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt		—		82,671		—		82,671
Municipal securities		—		2,035		—		2,035
Foreign currency forward position		—		354		—		354
Total	$	61,913	$	85,060	$	—	$	146,973

Securities classified within Level 2 were valued using a market approach utilizing prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving comparable assets. The foreign currency forward contracts are classified within Level 2 as the valuation inputs are based on quoted market prices. The mutual funds held in a rabbi trust represent investments associated with the deferred cash incentive plan. See Note 14 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the deferred cash incentive plan.  There were no financial assets classified within Level 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.   

  The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the net investment in the Company’s U.K. subsidiaries. The Company designates each foreign currency forward contract as a hedge and assesses the risk management objective and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure and how effectiveness is to be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. These hedges are for a one-month period and are used to limit exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The fair value of the asset is included in prepaid expenses and other assets and the fair value of the liability is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Gains or

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losses on foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedges are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.A summary of the Company’s foreign currency forward position is as follows:

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Notional value	$	58,463	$	45,716
Fair value of notional		52,945		45,362
Fair value of the asset	$	5,518	$	354

The following is a summary of the Company’s investments:

			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	Amortized		unrealized		unrealized			fair
	cost		gains		losses			value
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt	$	72,558	$	116	$	(24	)	$	72,650
Total securities available-for-sale		72,558		116		(24	)		72,650
Trading securities
Corporate debt		72,119		292		(15	)		72,396
Mutual funds held in rabbi trust		1,167		117		—			1,284
Total trading securities		73,286		409		(15	)		73,680
Total investments	$	145,844	$	525	$	(39	)	$	146,330
As of December 31, 2015
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt	$	82,937	$	4	$	(270	)	$	82,671
Municipal securities		2,035		—		—			2,035
Total securities available-for-sale	$	84,972	$	4	$	(270	)	$	84,706

The following table summarizes the fair value of the investments based upon the contractual maturities:

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Less than one year	$	68,122	$	37,694
Due in 1 - 5 years		78,208		47,012
Total	$	146,330	$	84,706

Proceeds from the sales and maturities of investments during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $29.6 million and $15.3 million, respectively.

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The following table provides fair values and unrealized losses on investments and by the aging of the securities’ continuous unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

	Less than Twelve Months					Twelve Months or More				Total
	Estimated		Gross			Estimated		Gross		Estimated		Gross
	fair		unrealized			fair		unrealized		fair		unrealized
	value		losses			value		losses		value		losses
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Corporate debt	$	23,507	$	(39	)	$	—	$	—	$	23,507	$	(39	)
As of December 31, 2015
Corporate debt	$	70,651	$	(270	)	$	—	$	—	$	70,651	$	(270	)

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives was $59.7 million as of both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Intangible assets that are subject to amortization, including the related accumulated amortization, are comprised of the following:

	June 30, 2016							December 31, 2015
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	(In thousands)
Technology	$	5,770	$	(5,770	)	$	—	$	5,770	$	(5,492	)	$	278
Customer relationships		5,644		(1,722	)		3,922		5,668		(1,553	)		4,115
Non-competition agreements		380		(380	)		—		380		(359	)		21
Tradenames		370		(370	)		—		370		(353	)		17
Total	$	12,164	$	(8,242	)	$	3,922	$	12,188	$	(7,757	)	$	4,431

Amortization expense associated with identifiable intangible assets was $0.5 million and $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Estimated total amortization expense is $0.7 million for 2016, and $0.4 million for each of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

6. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015			2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Current:
Federal	$	10,546	$	9,774		$	17,624	$	17,090
State and local		1,871		1,720			3,160		3,198
Foreign		1,750		1,434			2,885		1,955
Total current provision		14,167		12,928			23,669		22,243
Deferred:
Federal		2,836		64			7,813		3,904
State and local		406		6			1,119		630
Foreign		16		(177	)		231		(47	)
Total deferred provision		3,258		(107	)		9,163		4,487
Provision for income taxes	$	17,425	$	12,821		$	32,832	$	26,730

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. Income tax returns for New York City (through 2003) and state (through 2009) and Connecticut state (through 2003) tax returns have been audited. Examinations of the Company’s federal tax returns for 2011 through 2013 and New York State tax returns for 2010 through 2013 are currently underway.

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The Company cannot estimate when the examinations will conclude or the impact such examinations will have on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, if any.

The Company has determined that unremitted earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States.

7. Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Employees	$	3,299	$	2,900	$	6,575	$	5,639
Non-employee directors		144		150		362		386
Total stock-based compensation	$	3,443	$	3,050	$	6,937	$	6,025

The Company records stock-based compensation for employees in employee compensation and benefits and for non-employee directors in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

   During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company granted to employees a total of 94,915 shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units, performance-based shares with an expected pay-out at target of 48,899 shares of common stock and 112,988 options to purchase shares of common stock. The fair value of the restricted stock and performance-based share awards was based on a weighted-average fair value per share at the grant date of $102.53 and $102.82, respectively. Based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the weighted-average fair value for each option granted was $31.80 per share.

  As of June 30, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested awards was $28.4 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

8. Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	33,126	$	24,238	$	62,089	$	48,831
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		36,876		36,699		36,826		36,703
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock		872		943		884		931
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		37,748		37,642		37,710		37,634
Basic earnings per share	$	0.90	$	0.66	$	1.69	$	1.33
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.88	$	0.64	$	1.65	$	1.30

Stock options and restricted stock totaling 91,308 shares and 131,329 shares for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and 164,766 shares and 190,588 shares for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive. The computation of diluted shares can vary among periods due, in part, to the change in the average price of the Company’s common stock.

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9. Credit Agreement

In January 2013, the Company entered into a three-year credit agreement that provided for revolving loans and letters of credit up to an aggregate of $50.0 million. In October 2015, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) that increased the borrowing capacity to an aggregate of $100.0 million, including a $5.0 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit. The Credit Agreement will mature in October 2017. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $0.9 million in letters of credit outstanding leaving $99.1 million available to borrow under the Credit Agreement. Subject to satisfaction of certain specified conditions, the Company is permitted to upsize the borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement by an additional $50.0 million.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either of the following, as designated by the Company for each borrowing: (A) the sum of (i) the greatest of (a) the prime rate, as defined, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% plus (ii) 0.50% or (B) the sum of (i) adjusted LIBOR plus (ii) 1.50%. Default interest is 2.00% per annum in excess of the rate otherwise applicable in the case of any overdue principal or any other overdue amount. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Credit Agreement in respect of unutilized revolving loan commitments at a rate of 0.40% per annum.

The Company’s existing and future domestic subsidiaries (other than any regulated subsidiary) have guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement. Subject to customary exceptions and exclusions, the Company’s borrowings under the Credit Agreement are collateralized by first priority pledges (subject to permitted liens) of substantially all of the Company’s personal property assets and the personal property assets of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that have guaranteed the Credit Agreement, including the equity interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and the equity interests of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries (limited, in the case of the voting equity interests of the foreign subsidiaries, to a pledge of 65% of those equity interests).

The Credit Agreement requires that the Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter not exceed 2.5 to 1.0 and a consolidated interest coverage ratio tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter not be less than 3.5 to 1.0. The Credit Agreement also requires that the Company’s trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter not be less than $80 million. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

If an event of default occurs, including failure to pay principal or interest due on the loan balance, a voluntary or involuntary proceeding seeking liquidation, change in control of the Company, or one or more material judgments against the Company in excess of $10.0 million, the lenders would be entitled to accelerate the borrowings under the Credit Agreement and take various other actions, including all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor. If certain bankruptcy events of default occur, the borrowings under the Credit Agreement will automatically accelerate.

10. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company leases office space under non-cancelable lease agreements expiring at various dates through 2027. Office space leases are subject to escalation based on certain costs incurred by the landlord. Minimum rental commitments as of June 30, 2016 under such operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

Remainder of 2016	$	1,643
2017		3,210
2018		2,930
2019		2,751
2020		2,751
2021 and thereafter		8,028
	$	21,313

Rental expense was $2.1 million and $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in occupancy expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Rental expense has been recorded based on the total minimum lease payments after giving effect to rent abatement and concessions, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. The Company is contingently obligated for standby letters of credit amounting to $0.9 million that were issued to landlords for office space.

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The Company has assigned a lease agreement on a leased property to a third party and is contingently liable should the assignee default on future lease obligations through the November 2020 lease termination date.  The aggregate amount of the future lease obligation under this arrangement is $1.2 million as of June 30, 2016.

Legal Matters

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements may be involved in various lawsuits, proceedings and regulatory examinations.  The Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings, if any, utilizing the latest information available. For matters where it is probable that the Company will incur a material loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company would establish an accrual for the loss. Once established, the accrual would be adjusted to reflect any relevant developments. When a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, the Company does not establish an accrual.

Based on currently available information, the outcome of the Company’s outstanding matters is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position. It is not presently possible to determine the ultimate exposure to these matters and there is no assurance that the resolution of the outstanding matters will not significantly exceed any reserves accrued by the Company.

Other

The Company, through two regulated subsidiaries, executes certain bond transactions between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller in trades which settle through third-party clearing brokers. Settlement typically occurs within one to three trading days after the trade date. Cash settlement of the transaction occurs upon receipt or delivery of the underlying instrument that was traded. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, revenues from matched principal trading were approximately $16.4 million and $7.4 million, respectively. Under securities clearing agreements with third party clearing brokers, the Company maintains collateral deposits with each clearing broker in the form of cash. As of June 30, 2016, the amount of the collateral deposits included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition was $1.4 million compared to $1.5 million at December 31, 2015. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, clearing expenses associated with matched principal transactions were $3.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, and are classified under general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event a counterparty does not fulfill its obligation to complete a transaction or if there is a miscommunication or other error in executing a matched principal transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the securities clearing agreements, the clearing broker has the right to charge the Company for losses resulting from a counterparty credit failure. The losses are not capped at a maximum amount and apply to all trades executed through the clearing broker. The Company did not record any liabilities or losses with regard to this right for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties and general indemnifications. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Company expects the risk of loss to be remote.

11. Customer Concentration

During both the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, no single client accounted for more than 10% of total revenue. One institutional investor client accounted for 15.3% and 14.5% of trading volumes during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

12. Share Repurchase Program

In January 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a share repurchase program for up to $35.0 million of the Company’s common stock. In July 2014, the Board of Directors increased the authorization under the share repurchase program by an additional $65.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The share repurchase program expired on February 29, 2016. In January 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a new two-year share repurchase program for up to $25.0 million of the Company’s common stock. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company repurchased 41,667 shares of common stock at a cost of $5.4 million. As of June 30, 2016, approximately $19.6 million remains authorized for repurchase under the program.  Shares repurchased under each program will be held in treasury for future use.

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13. Segment and Geographic Information

The Company operates an electronic multi-party platform for the trading of fixed-income securities and provides related data, analytics, compliance tools and post-trade services. The Company considers its operations to constitute a single business segment because of the highly integrated nature of these product and services, of the financial markets in which the Company competes and of the Company’s worldwide business activities. The Company believes that results by geographic region or client sector are not necessarily meaningful in understanding its business.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the U.K. was the only individual foreign country in which the Company had a subsidiary that accounted for 10% or more of the total revenues or total long-lived assets of the Company.  Revenues and long-lived assets are attributed to a geographic area based on the location of the particular subsidiary. Long-lived assets are defined as furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized software. Information regarding revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 and long-lived assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Revenues
United States	$	82,144	$	65,937	$	157,518	$	132,390
United Kingdom		14,027		9,200		26,732		19,264
Other		468		354		962		608
Total	$	96,639	$	75,491	$	185,212	$	152,262

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Long-lived assets, as defined
United States	$	23,296	$	21,968
United Kingdom		8,176		8,910
Other		23		19
Total	$	31,495	$	30,897

14. Deferred Compensation Plans

In 2015, the Company adopted a non-qualified deferred cash incentive plan for certain officers and other employees. Under the plan, eligible employees may defer up to 100% of their annual cash incentive pay.  The Company has elected to fund its deferred compensation obligations through a rabbi trust.  The rabbi trust is subject to creditor claims in the event of insolvency but such assets are not available for general corporate purposes.  Assets held in the rabbi trust are invested in mutual funds, as selected by the participants, which are designated as trading securities and carried at fair value.  The initial deferrals of $1.2 million occurred in January 2016 and as of June 30, 2016, the fair value of the mutual fund investments was $1.3 million.  Changes in the fair value of securities held in the rabbi trust will be recognized as trading gains and losses and included in other revenues and offsetting increases or decreases in the deferred compensation obligation will be recorded in employee compensation and benefits. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the trading gains and compensation expense were each $0.1 million.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for our future business and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. It is routine for our internal projections and expectations to change as the year or each quarter in the year progresses, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change prior to the end of each quarter or the year. Although these expectations may change, we are under no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this report. Our company policy is generally to provide our expectations only once per quarter, and not to update that information until the next quarter. Actual future events or results may differ, perhaps materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this report, particularly in the section captioned Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Executive Overview

MarketAxess operates a leading electronic trading platform that enables fixed-income market participants to efficiently trade corporate bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments using our patented trading technology. Over 1,100 institutional investor and broker-dealer firms are active users of our trading platform, accessing global liquidity in U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds, municipal bonds, credit default swaps and other fixed-income securities. Through our Open Trading™ protocols, we execute trades in certain bonds between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients in an all-to-all trading environment on a matched principal basis.  We also offer a number of trading-related products and services, including: market data to assist clients with trading decisions; connectivity solutions that facilitate straight-through processing; technology services to optimize trading environments; and execution services for exchange-traded fund managers and other clients. Through our Trax® division, we also offer a range of pre- and post-trade services, including trade matching, regulatory transaction reporting, and market and reference data across a range of fixed-income products.

Our platform’s innovative technology solutions are designed to increase the number of potential trading counterparties on our electronic trading platform and create a menu of solutions to address different trade sizes and bond liquidity characteristics.  Our traditional request-for-quote model allows our institutional investor clients to simultaneously request competing, executable bids or offers from our broker-dealer clients and execute trades with the broker-dealer of their choice from among those that choose to respond. Our Open Trading™ protocols complement our request-for-quote model by increasing the number of potential counterparties and improving liquidity by allowing all participants to interact anonymously in an all-to-all trading environment.  Our platform also provides our broker-dealer clients a solution that enables them to efficiently reach our institutional investor clients for the distribution and trading of bonds.

The majority of our revenues are derived from commissions for trades executed on our platform and distribution fees that are billed to our broker-dealer clients on a monthly basis. We also derive revenues from information and post-trade services, technology products and services, investment income and other income. Our expenses consist of employee compensation and benefits, depreciation and amortization, technology and communication expenses, professional and consulting fees, occupancy, marketing and advertising and other general and administrative expenses.

Our objective is to provide the leading global electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, connecting broker-dealers and institutional investors more easily and efficiently, while offering a broad array of information, trading and technology services to market participants across the trading cycle. The key elements of our strategy are:

· to innovate and efficiently add new functionality and product offerings to the MarketAxess platform that we believe will help to increase our market share with existing clients, as well as to expand our client base;

· to leverage our existing client network and technology to increase the number of potential counterparties and improve liquidity by developing and deploying a wide range of electronic trading protocols to complement our traditional request-for-quote model and allowing broker-dealers and institutional investors to interact in our all-to-all Open Trading^TM  environment;

· to leverage our existing technology and client relationships to deploy our electronic trading platform into additional product segments within the fixed-income securities markets and deliver fixed-income securities-related technical services and products;

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· to continue building our existing service offerings so that our electronic trading platform is more fully integrated into the workflow of our broker-dealer and institutional investor clients and to continue to add functionality to allow our clients to achieve a fully automated end-to-end straight-through processing solution (automation from trade initiation to settlement);  

· to add new content and analytical capabilities to BondTicker™ and expand our Trax^®  data service offerings in order to improve the value of the information we provide to our clients; and

· to continue to increase and supplement our internal growth by entering into strategic alliances, or acquiring businesses or technologies that will enable us to enter new markets, provide new products or services, or otherwise enhance the value of our platform to our clients. For example, the acquisition of Xtrakter Limited (“Xtrakter”) in February 2013 provided us with an expanded set of Trax^®  data and post-trade technology solutions ahead of incoming pre- and post-trade transparency mandates from the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (“MIFID II”) in Europe. In April 2013, we entered into a strategic alliance with BlackRock, Inc. (“Blackrock”) to create a unified, open trading solution designed to help reduce liquidity fragmentation and improve pricing across U.S. cash credit markets.  In January 2015, we expanded this alliance with BlackRock to include European cash credit markets.

Critical Factors Affecting Our Industry and Our Company

Economic, Political and Market Factors

The global fixed-income securities industry is risky and volatile and is directly affected by a number of economic, political and market factors that may result in declining trading volume. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These factors include, among others, credit market conditions, the current interest rate environment, including the volatility of interest rates and investors’ forecasts of future interest rates, economic and political conditions in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, and the consolidation or contraction of our broker-dealer clients.

Competitive Landscape

The global fixed-income securities industry generally, and the electronic financial services markets in which we engage in particular, are highly competitive, and we expect competition to intensify in the future. Sources of competition for us will continue to include, among others, bond trading conducted directly between broker-dealers and their institutional investor clients over the telephone or electronically and other multi-dealer trading companies. Competitors, including companies in which some of our broker-dealer clients have invested, have developed or acquired electronic trading platforms or have announced their intention to explore the development of electronic platforms that may compete with us.

In general, we compete on the basis of a number of key factors, including, among others, the liquidity provided on our platform, the magnitude and frequency of price improvement enabled by our platform and the quality and speed of execution. We believe that our ability to grow volumes and revenues will largely depend on our performance with respect to these factors.

Our competitive position is also enhanced by the familiarity and integration of our broker-dealer and institutional investor clients with our electronic trading platform and other systems. We have focused on the unique aspects of the credit markets we serve in the development of our platform, working closely with our clients to provide a system that is suited to their needs.

Regulatory Environment

Our industry has been and is subject to continuous regulatory changes and may become subject to new regulations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing regulations, which could require us to incur significant costs.

Following the global financial crisis and other recent events in the financial industry, governments and regulators in both the United States and Europe have called for increased regulation and transparency in the over-the-counter markets. As a result, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law in July 2010. Among the most significant requirements of the derivatives section of the Dodd-Frank Act are mandatory clearing of certain derivative instruments (“swaps”) through regulated central clearing organizations and mandatory trading of those instruments through either regulated exchanges or swap execution facilities (“SEFs”), in each case, subject to certain key exceptions. MarketAxess SEF Corporation, our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary,  operates as a SEF for the trading of certain credit derivatives subject to the CFTC’s jurisdiction, including certain index swaps subject to the CFTC’s ‘made available for trade’ determination that are required to be executed on a SEF or regulated exchange. The SEC has not yet finalized its rules for security-based SEFs, nor has it published a timetable for the finalization and implementation of such rules. No assurance can be given regarding when, whether or in what form the remaining rules regarding the new regulatory regime for the swaps marketplace will be finalized or implemented.

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Various rules promulgated since the financial crisis could adversely affect our bank-affiliated broker-dealer clients’ ability to make markets in a variety of fixed-income securities, thereby negatively impacting the level of liquidity and pricing available on our trading platform. For example, while the recently adopted Volcker Rule does not apply directly to us, the Volcker Rule bans proprietary trading by banks and their affiliates. In addition, enhanced leverage ratios applicable to large banking organizations in the U.S. and Europe require such organizations to strengthen their balance sheets and may limit their ability or willingness to make markets on our trading platform.  We cannot predict the extent to which these rules or any future regulatory changes may adversely affect our business and operations.

Similar to the U.S., regulatory bodies in Europe are developing new rules for the fixed-income markets. MiFID II and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (“MiFIR”) were approved in June 2014 and introduce changes in market structure designed to: (i) enhance pre- and post-trade transparency for fixed income instruments with the scope of such requirements calibrated according to the liquidity of an instrument, (ii) increase and enhance post-trade reporting obligations with a requirement to submit post-trade data to Approved Reporting Mechanisms, (iii) ensure trading of certain derivatives occurs on regulated trading venues and (iv) establish a consolidated tape for trade data. While some of the rules and technical advice underpinning MiFID II have not yet been finalized, MiFID II will have a significant impact in these areas, as well as on corporate governance and investor protection.  MiFID II and MiFIR are expected to take effect in January 2018. The final rules may have an adverse effect on our operations or our ability to provide our electronic trading platform in Europe in a manner that can successfully compete against other types of regulated and non-regulated venues for the fixed-income trading needs of our clients. In addition, MiFID II is expected to cause us to expend more significant compliance, business and technology resources, incur additional operational costs and create additional regulatory exposure for our trading and post-trade businesses. While we generally believe the net impact of the rules and regulations may be positive for our businesses, unintended consequences of the rules and regulations may adversely affect us in ways yet to be determined.

The U.K. has voted in an advisory referendum to leave the European Union (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). The follow-up to the referendum is not yet clear as the U.K. government has not yet delivered an official notice of withdrawal, but it may significantly affect the fiscal, monetary and regulatory landscape in the U.K., and could have a material impact on its economy and the future growth of its various industries, including the financial services industry. Depending on the terms negotiated between E.U. member states and the U.K. following Brexit, our U.K. subsidiaries may not be able to rely on the existence of a “passporting” regime that allows immediate access to the single E.U. market and we may need to establish one or more new regulated subsidiaries in the E.U. in order to provide our trading platform and certain post-trade services to clients in the E.U.  Although it is not possible at this point in time to predict fully the effects of an exit of the U.K. from the E.U., it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, it may impact our ability to comply with the extensive government regulation to which we are subject.

Rapid Technological Changes

We must continue to enhance and improve our electronic trading platform. The electronic financial services industry is characterized by increasingly complex systems and infrastructures and new business models. Our future success will depend on our ability to enhance our existing products and services, develop and/or license new products and technologies that address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of our existing and prospective broker-dealer and institutional investor clients and respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis. We have been issued 13 patents covering our most significant trading protocols and other aspects of our trading system technology.

Trends in Our Business

The majority of our revenues are derived from commissions for transactions executed on our platform between our institutional investor and broker-dealer clients and monthly distribution fees. We believe that there are five key variables that impact the notional value of such transactions on our platform and the amount of commissions and distribution fees earned by us:

· the number of participants on our platform and their willingness to originate transactions through the platform;

· the number of broker-dealer clients on the platform and the frequency and competitiveness of the price responses they provide on our platform;

· the number of markets for which we make trading available to our clients;

· the overall level of activity in these markets; and

· the level of commissions that we collect for trades executed through the platform.

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We believe that overall corporate bond market trading volume is affected by various factors including the absolute levels of interest rates, the direction of interest rate movements, the level of new issues of corporate bonds and the volatility of corporate bond spreads versus U.S. Treasury securities. Because a significant percentage of our revenue is tied directly to the volume of securities traded on our platform, it is likely that a general decline in trading volumes, regardless of the cause of such decline, would reduce our revenues and have a significant negative impact on profitability.

Commission Revenue

Commissions are generally calculated as a percentage of the notional dollar volume of bonds traded on our platform and vary based on the type, size, yield and maturity of the bond traded. Under our transaction fee plans, bonds that are more actively traded or that have shorter maturities are generally charged lower commissions, while bonds that are less actively traded or that have longer maturities generally command higher commissions.

U.S. High-Grade Corporate Bond Commissions. Our U.S. high-grade corporate bond fee plans generally incorporate variable transaction fees and distribution fees billed to our broker-dealer clients on a monthly basis. Certain dealers participate in fee programs that do not contain monthly distribution fees and instead incorporate additional per transaction execution fees and minimum monthly fee commitments. Under these fee plans, we electronically add the transaction fee to the spread quoted by the broker-dealer client. The U.S. high-grade transaction fee is generally designated in basis points in yield and, as a result, is subject to fluctuation depending on the duration of the bond traded. The average U.S. high-grade fees per million may vary in the future due to changes in yield, years-to-maturity and nominal size of bonds traded on our platform.

Other Credit Commissions. Other credit includes emerging markets bonds, high-yield bonds, Eurobonds, municipal bonds and structured products bonds. Commissions for other credit products generally vary based on the type of the instrument traded using standard fee schedules. Similar to the U.S. high-grade plans, our European fee plans generally incorporate monthly distribution fees, as well as variable transaction fees. The average other credit fees per million may vary in the future due to changes in product mix or trading protocols.

Liquid Products Commissions. Liquid products includes U.S. agency, European government bonds and credit derivatives. Commissions for liquid products generally vary based on the type of the instrument traded using standard fee schedules.

For trades that we execute between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller, we earn our commission through the difference in price between the two trades. Distribution fees include any unused monthly fee commitments under our variable fee plans.

We anticipate that average fees per million may change in the future. Consequently, past trends in commissions are not necessarily indicative of future commissions.

Other Revenue

In addition to the commissions discussed above, we earn revenue from information and post-trade services, investment income and other income.

Information and post-trade services. We generate revenue from information services provided to our broker-dealer clients, institutional investor clients and data-only subscribers. Information services are invoiced monthly, quarterly or annually. When billed in advance, revenues are deferred and recognized monthly on a straight-line basis. We also generate revenue from trade matching and regulatory transaction reporting services. Revenue is recognized in the period the services are provided.

Investment Income. Investment income consists of income earned on our investments.

Other. Other revenues include revenue from professional consulting services, technology software licenses and maintenance and support services, fees from telecommunications line charges to broker-dealer clients, initial set-up fees and other miscellaneous revenues.

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Expenses

In the normal course of business, we incur the following expenses:

Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits is our most significant expense and includes employee salaries, stock-based compensation costs, other incentive compensation, employee benefits and payroll taxes.

Depreciation and Amortization. We depreciate our computer hardware and related software, office hardware and furniture and fixtures and amortize our capitalized software development costs on a straight-line basis over three to seven years. We amortize leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the remaining term of the lease. Intangible assets with definite lives, including purchased technologies, customer relationships and other intangible assets, are amortized over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to 15 years. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate a possible impairment.

Technology and Communications. Technology and communications expense consists primarily of costs relating to maintenance on software and hardware, our internal network connections, data center hosting costs and data feeds provided by outside vendors or service providers. The majority of our broker-dealer clients have dedicated high-speed communication lines to our network in order to provide fast data transfer. We charge our broker-dealer clients a monthly fee for these connections, which is recovered against the relevant expenses we incur.

Professional and Consulting Fees. Professional and consulting fees consist primarily of accounting fees, legal fees and fees paid to information technology and other consultants for services provided for the maintenance of our trading platform, information and post-trade services products and other services.

Occupancy. Occupancy costs consist primarily of office and equipment rent, utilities and commercial rent tax.

Marketing and Advertising. Marketing and advertising expense consists primarily of print and other advertising expenses we incur to promote our products and services. This expense also includes costs associated with attending or exhibiting at industry-sponsored seminars, conferences and conventions, and travel and entertainment expenses incurred by our sales force to promote our trading platform and information services.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expense consists primarily of general travel and entertainment, clearing costs from matched principal trades, board of directors’ expenses, charitable contributions, provision for doubtful accounts, and various state franchise and U.K. value-added taxes.

Expenses may grow in the future, notably in employee compensation and benefits, primarily due to investment in new products and geographic expansion. However, we believe that operating leverage can be achieved by increasing volumes in existing products and adding new products without substantial additions to our infrastructure.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, also referred to as U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under varying assumptions or conditions. Note 2 of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.  There were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates during the six months ended June 30, 2016, as compared to those we disclosed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion on recent accounting pronouncements.

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Segment Results

We operate an electronic multi-party platform for the trading of fixed-income securities and provide related data, analytics, compliance tools and post-trade services. We consider our operations to constitute a single business segment because of the highly integrated nature of these product and services, of the financial markets in which we compete and of our worldwide business activities. We believe that results by geographic region or client sector are not necessarily meaningful in understanding our business. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for certain geographic information about the Company’s business required by U.S. GAAP.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2015

Overview

Total revenues increased by $21.1 million or 28.0% to $96.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, from $75.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. This increase in total revenues was primarily due to higher commissions of $19.8 million.  A 6.4% change in the average foreign currency exchange rates of the Pound Sterling compared to the U.S. dollar from the three months ended June 30, 2015 to the three months ended June 30, 2016 had the effect of decreasing revenues by $1.0 million.

Total expenses increased by $7.7 million or 19.9% to $46.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, from $38.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. This increase was primarily due to higher employee compensation and benefits of $5.2 million, higher professional and consulting fees of $1.2 million and an increase in general and administrative expense of $0.9 million. The change in average foreign currency exchange rates had the effect of decreasing expenses by $0.9 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016.  

Income before taxes increased by $13.5 million or 36.4% to $50.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, from $37.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Net income increased by $8.9 million or 36.7% to $33.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, from $24.2 million for three months ended June 30, 2015.

Revenues

Our revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes, were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2016					2015
			% of					% of			$		%
	$		Revenues			$		Revenues			Change		Change
	($ in thousands)
Commissions	$	86,239		89.3	%	$	66,412		88.0	%	$	19,827		29.9	%
Information and post-trade services		8,586		8.9			7,632		10.1			954		12.5
Investment income		517		0.5			190		0.3			327		172.1
Other		1,297		1.3			1,257		1.6			40		3.2
Total revenues	$	96,639		100.0	%	$	75,491		100.0	%	$	21,148		28.0	%

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Commissions. Our commission revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes, were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
					$			%
	2016		2015		Change			Change
	($ in thousands)
Variable transaction fees
U.S. high-grade	$	35,771	$	26,439	$	9,332			35.3		%
Other credit		33,826		23,477		10,349			44.1
Liquid products		678		690		(12	)		(1.7	)
Total variable transaction fees		70,275		50,606		19,669			38.9
Distribution fees
U.S. high-grade		14,297		14,084		213			1.5
Other credit		1,471		1,467		4			0.3
Liquid products		196		255		(59	)		(23.1	)
Total distribution fees		15,964		15,806		158			1.0
Total commissions	$	86,239	$	66,412	$	19,827			29.9		%

Variable Transaction Fees

The following table shows the extent to which the increase in variable transaction fees for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was attributable to changes in transaction volumes and variable transaction fees per million:

	Change from the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
	U.S. High-Grade		Other Credit			Liquid Products			Total
	(In thousands)
Volume increase	$	7,164	$	15,850		$	12		$	23,026
Variable transaction fee per million increase (decrease)		2,168		(5,501	)		(24	)		(3,357	)
Total commissions increase (decrease)	$	9,332	$	10,349		$	(12	)	$	19,669

Our trading volumes for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
					$			%
		2016		2015	Change			Change
Trading Volume Data (in millions)
U.S. high-grade - fixed rate	$	183,107	$	142,459	$	40,648			28.5		%
U.S. high-grade - floating rate		6,220		6,504		(284	)		(4.4	)
Total U.S. high-grade		189,327		148,963		40,364			27.1
Other credit		131,168		78,304		52,864			67.5
Liquid products		17,781		17,473		308			1.8
Total	$	338,276	$	244,740	$	93,536			38.2		%
Number of U.S. Trading Days		64		63
Number of U.K. Trading Days		63		61

For volume reporting purposes, transactions in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars at average monthly rates. The 27.1% increase in our U.S. high-grade volume was principally due to an increase in our estimated market share of adjusted total U.S. high-grade corporate bond volume as reported by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (“TRACE”) from 14.8 % for the three months ended June 30, 2015 to 16.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2016, coupled with an increase in overall market volume as measured by FINRA TRACE.  We adjusted the reported U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes to eliminate the increased reporting of affiliate back-to-back trades by certain broker-dealers that occurred from April 2014 through October 2015. Adjusted FINRA TRACE U.S. high-grade volume increased 17.0% to $1.2 trillion for the three

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months ended June 30, 2016 from $1.0 trillion for the three months ended June 30, 2015.  Based on information provided by FINRA, we believe that the TRACE volumes, as adjusted by us, provide a more accurate comparison to prior period reporting. We have provided a reconciliation of the reported U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes to the adjusted U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes in the “Investor Relations” section of our website.

Other credit volumes increased by 67.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015, primarily due to increases of 126% in Eurobond volume, 47% in high-yield bond volume and 57% in emerging markets bond volume. Liquid products volume (excluding credit derivatives) increased by 1.8% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Our average variable transaction fee per million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015
Average Variable Transaction fee per million
U.S. high-grade - fixed rate	$	194	$	183
U.S. high-grade - floating rate		36		51
Total U.S. high-grade		189		177
Other credit		258		300
Liquid products		38		39
Total		208		207

Total U.S. high-grade average variable transaction fee per million increased to $189 per million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $177 per million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 principally as a result of an increase in the duration of bonds traded. Other credit average variable transaction fee per million decreased to $258 per million for the three months ended June 30, 2016  from $300 per million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 due to a larger percentage of volume in products and protocols that carry lower fees per million, principally Eurobond and emerging market sovereign bonds.

Distribution Fees

U.S. high-grade distribution fees increased $0.2 million principally due to the migration of a broker-dealer client to a plan that incorporates a monthly distribution fee in 2016.

Information and Post-Trade Services. Information and post-trade services revenues increased by $1.0 million principally due to new data contracts. The change in average foreign currency exchange rates had the effect of decreasing information and post-trade services revenue by $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016. Our transaction reporting business processed approximately 289 million and 252 million transactions for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Investment Income. Investment income increased by $0.3 million primarily due to a higher investment balance in 2016.

Other. Other income was $1.3 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.  

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Expenses

Our expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2016					2015
			% of					% of			$			%
	$		Revenues			$		Revenues			Change			Change
	($ in thousands)
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	$	25,815		26.7	%	$	20,593		27.3	%	$	5,222			25.4		%
Depreciation and amortization		4,540		4.7			4,603		6.1			(63	)		(1.4	)
Technology and communications		4,277		4.4			3,967		5.3			310			7.8
Professional and consulting fees		4,245		4.4			3,011		4.0			1,234			41.0
Occupancy		1,225		1.3			1,232		1.6			(7	)		(0.6	)
Marketing and advertising		1,824		1.9			1,764		2.3			60			3.4
General and administrative		4,162		4.3			3,262		4.3			900			27.6
Total expenses	$	46,088		47.7	%	$	38,432		50.9	%	$	7,656			19.9		%

Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits increased by $5.2 million primarily due to a $3.0 million increase in salaries, taxes and benefits principally as a result of higher employee headcount, higher employee incentive compensation of $1.7 million, which is tied to operating performance, and a $0.5 million increase in stock-based compensation resulting from higher employee equity awards granted in 2016.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased by $0.1 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of equipment purchases and leasehold improvements and $3.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively, of software development costs were capitalized.

Technology and Communications.  Technology and communication expenses increased by $0.3 million primarily due to a $0.3 million increase in market data costs.

Professional and Consulting Fees. Professional and consulting fees increased by $1.2 million due to higher technology consulting costs of $0.4 million, tax and risk consulting services of $0.5 million and consulting fees associated with new system implementations of $0.3 million.

Occupancy. Occupancy costs were $1.2 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

Marketing and Advertising. Marketing and advertising expenses increased by $0.1 million.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.9 million primarily due to higher clearing costs of $1.2 million.

Provision for Income Tax. The $4.6 million increase in the tax provision was primarily attributable to higher pre-tax income. Our consolidated effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was 34.5%, compared to 34.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Our consolidated effective tax rate can vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic mix of our earnings and changes in tax legislation and tax rates.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2015

Overview

Total revenues increased by $33.0 million or 21.6% to $185.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, from $152.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. This increase in total revenues was primarily due to higher commissions of $31.9 million.  A 5.9% change in average foreign currency exchange rates of the Pound Sterling compared to the U.S. dollar from the six months ended June 30, 2015 to the six months ended June 30, 2016 had the effect of decreasing revenues by $1.7 million.

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Total expenses increased by $13.6 million or 17.7% to $90.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, from $76.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. This increase was primarily due to higher employee compensation and benefits of $8.6 million, an increase of $1.8 million in professional and consulting fees and an increase in general and administrative expense of $2.1 million. The change in average foreign currency exchange rates had the effect of decreasing expenses by $1.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016.  

Income before taxes increased by $19.4 million or 25.6% to $94.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, from $75.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Net income increased by $13.3 million or 27.2% to $62.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, from $48.8 million for six months ended June 30, 2015.

Revenues

Our revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes, were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016					2015
			% of					% of			$			%
	$		Revenues			$		Revenues			Change			Change
	($ in thousands)
Commissions	$	165,332		89.3	%	$	133,430		87.6	%	$	31,902			23.9		%
Information and post-trade services		16,365		8.8			15,311		10.1			1,054			6.9
Investment income		935		0.5			373		0.3			562			150.7
Other		2,580		1.4			3,148		2.0			(568	)		(18.0	)
Total revenues	$	185,212		100.0	%	$	152,262		100.0	%	$	32,950			21.6		%

Commissions. Our commission revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes, were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
					$			%
	2016		2015		Change			Change
	($ in thousands)
Variable transaction fees
U.S. high-grade	$	67,339	$	53,326	$	14,013			26.3		%
Other credit		64,747		47,230		17,517			37.1
Liquid products		1,298		1,391		(93	)		(6.7	)
Total variable transaction fees		133,384		101,947		31,437			30.8
Distribution fees
U.S. high-grade		28,521		28,034		487			1.7
Other credit		2,971		2,913		58			2.0
Liquid products		456		536		(80	)		(14.9	)
Total distribution fees		31,948		31,483		465			1.5
Total commissions	$	165,332	$	133,430	$	31,902			23.9		%

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Variable Transaction Fees

The following table shows the extent to which the increase in variable transaction fees for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was attributable to changes in transaction volumes and variable transaction fees per million:

	Change from the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
	U.S. High-Grade		Other Credit			Liquid Products			Total
	(In thousands)
Volume increase (decrease)	$	13,172	$	26,054		$	(43	)	$	39,183
Variable transaction fee per million increase (decrease)		841		(8,537	)		(50	)		(7,746	)
Total commissions increase (decrease)	$	14,013	$	17,517		$	(93	)	$	31,437

Our trading volumes for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
					$			%
		2016		2015	Change			Change
Trading Volume Data (in millions)
U.S. high-grade - fixed rate	$	353,326	$	280,446	$	72,880			26.0		%
U.S. high-grade - floating rate		13,727		13,899		(172	)		(1.2	)
Total U.S. high-grade		367,053		294,345		72,708			24.7
Other credit		248,142		159,923		88,219			55.2
Liquid products		33,102		34,148		(1,046	)		(3.1	)
Total	$	648,297	$	488,416	$	159,881			32.7		%
Number of U.S. Trading Days		125		124
Number of U.K. Trading Days		125		124

For volume reporting purposes, transactions in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars at average monthly rates. The 24.7% increase in our U.S. high-grade volume was principally due to an increase in our estimated market share of adjusted total U.S. high-grade corporate bond volume as reported by FINRA TRACE from 14.2 % for the six months ended June 30, 2015 to 15.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2016, coupled with an increase in overall market volume as measured by FINRA TRACE.  We adjusted the reported U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes to eliminate the increased reporting of affiliate back-to-back trades by certain broker-dealers that occurred from April 2014 through October 2015. Adjusted FINRA TRACE U.S. high-grade volume increased 14.6% to $2.4 trillion for the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $2.1 trillion for the six months ended June 30, 2015.  Based on information provided by FINRA, we believe that the TRACE volumes, as adjusted by us, provide a more accurate comparison to prior period reporting. We have provided a reconciliation of the reported U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes to the adjusted U.S. high-grade TRACE volumes in the “Investor Relations” section of our website.

Other credit volumes increased by 55.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015, primarily due to increases of 85% in Eurobond volume, 46% in high-yield bond volume and 46% in emerging markets bond volume. Liquid products volume (excluding credit derivatives) decreased by 3.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015, due mainly to a 5.7% decrease in estimated U.S. agency bond market volume.

Our average variable transaction fee per million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015
Average Variable Transaction fee per million
U.S. high-grade - fixed rate	$	189	$	188
U.S. high-grade - floating rate		36		48
Total U.S. high-grade		183		181
Other credit		261		295
Liquid products		39		41
Total		206		209

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Total U.S. high-grade average variable transaction fee per million increased to $183 per million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $181 per million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Other credit average variable transaction fee per million decreased to $261 per million for the six months ended June 30, 2016  from $295 per million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 due to a larger percentage of volume in products and protocols that carry lower fees per million, principally Eurobond and emerging market sovereign bonds.

Distribution Fees

U.S. high-grade distribution fees increased $0.5 million due to an increase in unused monthly fee commitments under our all variable fee plan coupled with one dealer migrating to a plan that incorporates a monthly distribution fee in 2016.

Information and Post-Trade Services. Information and post-trade services revenues increased by $1.1 million principally due to new data contracts. The change in average foreign currency exchange rates had the effect of decreasing information and post-trade services revenue by $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. Our transaction reporting business processed approximately 590 million and 531 million transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Investment Income. Investment income increased by $0.6 million primarily due to a higher investment balance in 2016.

Other. Other income decreased by $0.6 million principally due to the wind-down of a professional consulting service engagement.  

Expenses

Our expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016					2015
			% of					% of			$		%
	$		Revenues			$		Revenues			Change		Change
	($ in thousands)
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	$	50,342		27.2	%	$	41,767		27.4	%	$	8,575		20.5	%
Depreciation and amortization		9,221		5.0			9,215		6.1			6		0.1
Technology and communications		8,581		4.6			8,305		5.5			276		3.3
Professional and consulting fees		8,107		4.4			6,293		4.1			1,814		28.8
Occupancy		2,386		1.3			2,224		1.5			162		7.3
Marketing and advertising		3,602		1.9			2,956		1.9			646		21.9
General and administrative		8,052		4.3			5,941		3.8			2,111		35.5
Total expenses	$	90,291		48.8	%	$	76,701		50.3	%	$	13,590		17.7	%

Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits increased by $8.6 million primarily due to a $5.6 million increase in salaries, taxes and benefits principally as a result of higher employee headcount, higher employee incentive compensation of $2.1 million, which is tied to operating performance, and a $0.9 million increase in stock-based compensation resulting from higher employee equity awards granted in 2016.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization was $9.2 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, $3.9 million and $2.3 million, respectively, of equipment purchases and leasehold improvements and $6.1 million and $4.8 million, respectively, of software development costs were capitalized.

Technology and Communications.  Technology and communication expenses increased by $0.3 million primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in market data costs offset by lower data center hosting costs of $0.2 million.

Professional and Consulting Fees. Professional and consulting fees increased by $1.8 million due to higher technology consulting costs of $0.7 million, tax and risk consulting services of $0.6 million, and consulting fees associated with new system implementations of $0.5 million.

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Occupancy. Occupancy costs increased by $0.2 million primarily due to rent associated with additional New York City office space that was occupied in April 2015.

Marketing and Advertising. Marketing and advertising expenses increased by $0.7 million primarily due to higher sales related travel and entertainment costs of $0.5 million.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $2.1 million primarily due to higher clearing costs of $2.3 million.

Provision for Income Tax. The $6.1 million increase in the tax provision was primarily attributable to higher pre-tax income offset by a lower effective tax rate. Our consolidated effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was 34.6%, compared to 35.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The decrease was principally due to a higher percentage of income attributable to lower tax jurisdictions. Our consolidated effective tax rate can vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic mix of our earnings and changes in tax legislation and tax rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the past three years, we have met our cash needs through cash on hand and internally generated funds. Cash and cash equivalents and investments totaled $299.6 million at June 30, 2016.

In January 2013, we entered into a three-year credit agreement that provides for revolving loans and letters of credit up to an aggregate of $50.0 million. In October 2015, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) that increased the borrowing capacity to an aggregate of $100 million, including a $5.0 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit. The Credit Agreement will mature in October 2017. As of June 30, 2016, we had $0.9 million in letters of credit outstanding leaving $99.1 million available to borrow under the Credit Agreement. Subject to satisfaction of certain specified conditions, we are permitted to upsize the borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement by an additional $50.0 million.

Our cash flows were as follows:

	Six Months Ended June 30,
							$			%
	2016			2015			Change			Change
	($ in thousands)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	(28,669	)	$	40,595		$	(69,264	)		(170.6	)	%
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		1,988			(10,935	)		12,923			(118.2	)
Net cash (used in) financing activities		(19,587	)		(28,824	)		9,237			(32.0	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(185	)		(497	)		312			(62.8	)
Net (decrease) increase for the period	$	(46,453	)	$	339		$	(46,792	)		(13,803.0	)	%

The $69.3 million decrease in net cash (used in) provided by operating activities was primarily due to a net increase in corporate debt trading investments of $72.4 million and working capital of $8.7 million offset by an increase in net income of $13.3 million.

The $12.9 million increase in net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was primarily due to a reduction of $15.7 million in net purchases of available-for-sale investments offset by an increase in capital expenditures of $2.9 million.

The $9.2 million decrease in net cash used in financing activities was principally due to a decrease of $9.1 million in repurchases of our common stock and higher excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation of $4.8 million, offset by a $4.5 million increase in the cash dividend paid on common stock.

Past trends of cash flows are not necessarily indicative of future cash flow levels. A decrease in cash flows may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, business and financial condition.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to cash flow from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, we use a non-GAAP financial measures called “Free Cash Flow”.  Free Cash Flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities excluding net purchases of corporate debt trading investments less expenditures for furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements and capitalized software development costs. We believe this non-GAAP financial measure is important in gaining an understanding of our financial strength and cash flow generation.

The table set forth below presents a reconciliation of our cash flow from operating activities to Free Cash Flow, as defined, for the 12 months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

	Twelve months ended June 30,
	2016			2015
	($ in thousands)
Cash flow from operating activities	$	50,932		$	114,135
Add: Net purchases of corporate debt trading  investments		72,396			-
Less: Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements		(6,354	)		(3,218	)
Less: Capitalization of software development costs		(11,915	)		(10,005	)
Free Cash Flow	$	105,059		$	100,912

Other Factors Influencing Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe that our current resources are adequate to meet our liquidity needs and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, our future liquidity and capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including expenses associated with product development and expansion and new business opportunities that are intended to further diversify our revenue stream. We may also acquire or invest in technologies, business ventures or products that are complementary to our business. In the event we require any additional financing, it will take the form of equity or debt financing. Any additional equity offerings may result in dilution to our stockholders. Any debt financings, if available at all, may involve restrictive covenants with respect to dividends, issuances of additional capital and other financial and operational matters related to our business.

Certain of our U.S. subsidiaries are registered as a broker-dealer or a SEF and therefore are subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the CFTC. These rules contain minimum net capital requirements, as defined in the applicable regulations, and also may require a significant part of the registrants’ assets be kept in relatively liquid form. Certain of our foreign subsidiaries are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K. or Ontario Securities Commission in Canada and must maintain financial resources, as defined in the applicable regulations, in excess of the applicable financial resources requirement. As of June 30, 2016, each of our subsidiaries that are subject to these regulations had net capital or financial resources in excess of their minimum requirements. As of June 30, 2016, our subsidiaries maintained aggregate net capital and financial resources that were $116.8 million in excess of the required levels of $10.0 million.

Each of our U.S. and foreign regulated subsidiaries are subject to local regulations which generally prohibit repayment of borrowings from our affiliates, paying cash dividends, making loans to our affiliates or otherwise entering into transactions that result in a significant reduction in regulatory net capital or financial resources without prior notification to or approval from such regulated entity’s principal regulator.

As of June 30, 2016, the amount of unrestricted cash held by our non-U.S. subsidiaries was $49.3 million. We have determined that unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries are considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S. Any repatriation of such foreign earnings by way of dividend may be subject to both U.S. federal and state income taxes, reduced by applicable foreign tax credits. However, we do not have any current needs or foreseeable plans to repatriate cash by way of dividends from our non-U.S. subsidiaries.

We execute certain bond transactions between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller in trades which settle through a third-party clearing broker. Settlement typically occurs within one to three trading days after the trade date. Cash settlement of the transaction occurs upon receipt or delivery of the underlying instrument that was traded. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, revenues from matched principal trading were approximately $16.4 million and $7.4 million, respectively. Under securities clearing agreements with third party clearing brokers, we maintain collateral deposits with each clearing broker in the form of cash. As of June 30, 2016, the amount of the collateral deposits included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition was $1.4

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million compared to $1.5 million at December 31, 2015.  For the six months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, clearing expenses associated with matched principal transactions were $3.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, and are classified under general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We are exposed to credit risk in the event a counterparty does not fulfill its obligation to complete a transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the securities clearing agreements between us and our clearing brokers, the clearing brokers have the right to charge us for losses resulting from a counterparty credit failure. The losses are not capped at a maximum amount and apply to all trades executed through such clearing broker. We did not record any liabilities or losses with regard to this right for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties and general indemnifications. Our maximum exposure from any claims under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve claims that have not yet occurred. However, based on past experience, we expect the risk of material loss to be remote.

In January 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a new two-year share repurchase program for up to $25.0 million of our common stock. Shares repurchased under the program will be held in treasury for future use.

In July 2016, our Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.26 per share payable on August 25, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 11, 2016. Any future declaration and payment of dividends will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors may take into account such matters as general business conditions, our financial results, capital requirements, contractual obligations, legal, and regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to their respective parent entities, and any such other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant.

Effects of Inflation

Because the majority of our assets are short-term in nature, they are not significantly affected by inflation. However, the rate of inflation may affect our expenses, such as employee compensation, office leasing costs and communications expenses, which may not be readily recoverable in the prices of our services. To the extent inflation results in rising interest rates and has other adverse effects on the securities markets, it may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Since December 31, 2015, we have not had any material changes outside the ordinary course of our business to our contractual obligations and commitments.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of the loss resulting from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

Market Risk

The global financial services business is, by its nature, risky and volatile and is directly affected by many national and international factors that are beyond our control. Any one of these factors may cause a substantial decline in the U.S. and global financial services markets, resulting in reduced trading volume and revenues. These events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

As of June 30, 2016, we had $145.0 million of investments, which were invested in corporate bonds and classified as securities available-for-sale or trading securities. Adverse movements, such as a 10% decrease in the value of these securities or a downturn or disruption in the markets for these securities, could result in a substantial loss. In addition, principal gains and losses resulting from these securities could on occasion have a disproportionate effect, positive or negative, on our financial condition and results of operations for any particular reporting period.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk represents our exposure to interest rate changes with respect to our cash, cash equivalents and investments. As of June 30, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents and investments amounted to $153.3 million. A hypothetical five basis point decrease in short-term interest rates would decrease our annual pre-tax earnings by approximately $0.1 million, assuming no change in the amount or composition of our cash and cash equivalents.

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As of June 30, 2016, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates would decrease or increase the fair value of the securities available-for-sale investment portfolio by approximately $0.6 million, assuming no change in the amount or composition of the investments.  The hypothetical unrealized gain (loss) of $0.6 million would be recognized in other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  

A similar increase or decrease in interest rates would decrease or increase the fair value of the trading securities portfolio by approximately $0.8 million.  The hypothetical unrealized gain (loss) of $0.8 million would be recognized in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

We do not maintain an inventory of bonds that are traded on our platform.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

We conduct operations in several different countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., and substantial portions of our revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, pounds sterling and euros. Since our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate revenues, income and expenses, as well as assets and liabilities, into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect during or at the end of each reporting period.  Accordingly, increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar against the other currencies will affect our net operating revenues, operating income and the value of balance sheet items denominated in foreign currencies.

During the twelve months ended June 30, 2016, approximately 15% of our revenue was denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, most notably the British pound sterling.   Over the past twelve months, a hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in the U.S. dollar against all other currencies would have increased or decreased revenue by approximately $4.8 million and operating expenses by approximately $4.6 million.

Derivative Risk

Our limited derivative risk stems from our activities in the foreign currency forward contract market. We use this market to mitigate our U.S. dollar versus Pound Sterling exposure that arises from the activities of our U.K. subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2016, the fair value of the notional amount of our foreign currency forward contract was $52.9 million. We do not speculate in any derivative instruments.

Credit Risk

Two of our subsidiaries, MarketAxess Corporation and MarketAxess Europe Limited, act as a matched principal counterparty in connection with the Open Trading™ transactions that we execute between clients. We act as an intermediary in these transactions by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller in trades which then settle through a third-party clearing broker. Settlement typically occurs within one to three trading days after the trade date. Cash settlement of the transaction occurs upon receipt or delivery of the underlying instrument that was traded.

We are exposed to credit and performance risks in our role as matched principal trading counterparty to our Open Trading™ clients executing bond trades on our platform, including the risk that counterparties that owe us money or securities will not perform their obligations. These parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. Adverse movements in the prices of securities that are the subject of these transactions can increase our risk. In connection with Open Trading™ or other anonymous protocols, we expect that the number of transactions in which we act as a matched principal will increase.

In the process of executing matched principal transactions, miscommunications and other errors by our clients can arise whereby one of the counterparties to the transaction rejects the trade or otherwise refuses to settle their side of the transaction on the terms recorded by our platform. Although we maintain a clearly erroneous trade policy for Open Trading™ transactions in order to promote the integrity of the platform and to maintain safeguards, these unsettled or rejected trades can still create a potential liability for our subsidiary involved in the trade. If we are required to hold a position as a result of an error or a failure to deliver is prolonged, we may also incur additional financing costs or regulatory capital charges. Depending on the cause, number and value of the trades that are the subject of an alleged error or dispute, such trades have the potential to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We have policies and procedures in place to identify and manage our credit risk.  In connection with the recent growth of our Open Trading™ protocols, we have implemented additional automated controls to help us manage our credit risk exposure.  There can be no assurance that the policies, procedures and automated controls we use to manage this credit risk will effectively mitigate our

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credit risk exposure. Some of our risk management procedures are reliant upon the evaluation of information regarding the fixed- income markets, our clients or other relevant matters that are publicly available or otherwise acquired from third party sources. Such information may not be accurate, complete, up-to-date or properly assessed and interpreted by us. If our risk management procedures fail, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. Furthermore, our insurance policies are unlikely to provide coverage for such risks.

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and money market instruments that are primarily maintained at one major global bank. Given this concentration, we are exposed to certain credit risk in relation to our deposits at this bank.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a)  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures, ” as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of June 30, 2016. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by MarketAxess in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)  Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 identified in connection with the evaluation thereof by our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we and our subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements may be involved in various lawsuits, proceedings and regulatory examinations. We assess liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings, if any, utilizing the latest information available. For matters where it is probable that we will incur a material loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we would establish an accrual for the loss. Once established, the accrual would be adjusted to reflect any relevant developments. When a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, we would not establish an accrual.

Based on currently available information, the outcome of our outstanding matters is not expected to have a material adverse impact on our financial position. It is not presently possible to determine our ultimate exposure to these matters and there is no assurance that the resolution of the outstanding matters will not significantly exceed any reserves accrued by us.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. For a discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our 2015 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, we repurchased the following shares of common stock:

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans and Programs		Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans and Programs
							(In thousands)
April 1, 2016 -- April 30, 2016		10,812	$	125.68		10,400	$	22,540
May 1, 2016 -- May 31, 2016		11,378		128.56		10,415		21,195
June 1, 2016 -- June 30, 2016		12,306		140.93		11,000		19,645
		34,496	$	132.07		31,815

During the three months ended June 30, 2016, we repurchased 34,496 shares of common stock.  The repurchases included 2,681 shares surrendered by employees to us to satisfy the exercise price and withholding tax obligations upon the vesting of restricted shares and the exercise of stock options and 31,815 shares repurchased in connection with our share repurchase program.

In January 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a two-year share repurchase program for up to $25.0 million of our common stock. Shares repurchased under the program will be held in treasury for future use.  

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

36

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Listing:

Number	Description
31.1	Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2	Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1	Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2	Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document**
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document**
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document**
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document**
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document**
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document**

** Attached as Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the following materials, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; (iv) Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015; and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

37

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC.
Date: July 29, 2016	By:	/s/ RICHARD M. MCVEY
		Richard M. McVey
		Chief Executive Officer
		(principal executive officer)
Date: July 29, 2016	By:	/s/ ANTONIO L. DELISE
		Antonio L. DeLise
		Chief Financial Officer
		(principal financial and accounting officer)

38

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Richard M. McVey, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MarketAxess Holdings Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ RICHARD M. MCVEY

Richard M. McVey

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

Dated: July 29, 2016

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Antonio L. DeLise, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MarketAxess Holdings Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ ANTONIO L. DELISE

Antonio L. DeLise

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial and accounting officer)

Dated: July 29, 2016

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(United States Code, Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350)

Accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2016

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Richard M. McVey, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ RICHARD M. MCVEY

Richard M. McVey

Chief Executive Officer

July 29, 2016

This certification shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(United States Code, Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350)

Accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2016

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Antonio L. DeLise, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ ANTONIO L. DELISE

Antonio L. DeLise

Chief Financial Officer

July 29, 2016

This certification shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.

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Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jul. 28, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	MKTX
Entity Registrant Name	MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001278021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		37,627,445

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Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 153,275	$ 199,728
Investments, at fair value	146,330	84,706
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $178 and $109 as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	62,860	40,459
Goodwill and intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	63,635	64,142
Furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized software, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	31,495	30,897
Prepaid expenses and other assets	13,463	9,880
Deferred tax assets, net	6,057	9,229
Total assets	477,115	439,041
Liabilities
Accrued employee compensation	20,212	29,296
Income and other tax liabilities	3,000	4,463
Deferred revenue	2,606	2,312
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	15,146	12,257
Total liabilities	40,964	48,328
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders’ equity
Additional paid-in capital	333,279	321,215
Treasury stock - Common stock voting, at cost, 2,450,672 and 2,412,245 shares as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	(98,805)	(93,405)
Retained earnings	210,606	168,011
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,049)	(5,229)
Total stockholders’ equity	436,151	390,713
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	477,115	439,041
Undefined Preferred Stock [Member]
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock
Voting Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock	$ 120	$ 121

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Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for accounts receivable	$ 178	$ 109
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	4,855,000	4,855,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.003	$ 0.003
Common stock, shares authorized	110,000,000	110,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	40,087,466	39,821,519
Common stock, shares outstanding	37,636,794	37,409,274
Treasury stock, shares	2,450,672	2,412,245
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	110,000	110,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common Stock Non-Voting [Member]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.003	$ 0.003
Common stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding	0	0

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Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues
Commissions	$ 86,239	$ 66,412	$ 165,332	$ 133,430
Information and post-trade services	8,586	7,632	16,365	15,311
Investment income	517	190	935	373
Other	1,297	1,257	2,580	3,148
Total revenues	96,639	75,491	185,212	152,262
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	25,815	20,593	50,342	41,767
Depreciation and amortization	4,540	4,603	9,221	9,215
Technology and communications	4,277	3,967	8,581	8,305
Professional and consulting fees	4,245	3,011	8,107	6,293
Occupancy	1,225	1,232	2,386	2,224
Marketing and advertising	1,824	1,764	3,602	2,956
General and administrative	4,162	3,262	8,052	5,941
Total expenses	46,088	38,432	90,291	76,701
Income before income taxes	50,551	37,059	94,921	75,561
Provision for income taxes	17,425	12,821	32,832	26,730
Net income	$ 33,126	$ 24,238	$ 62,089	$ 48,831
Net income per common share
Basic	$ 0.90	$ 0.66	$ 1.69	$ 1.33
Diluted	0.88	0.64	1.65	1.30
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.26	$ 0.20	$ 0.52	$ 0.40
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	36,876	36,699	36,826	36,703
Diluted	37,748	37,642	37,710	37,634

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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 33,126	$ 24,238	$ 62,089	$ 48,831
Net cumulative translation adjustment and foreign currency exchange hedge, net of tax of $2,089, $(166), $4,101 and $(160), respectively	(1,804)	(266)	(4,041)	(316)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale, net of tax of $21, $(43), $136 and $(4), respectively	34	(69)	221	(6)
Comprehensive Income	$ 31,356	$ 23,903	$ 58,269	$ 48,509

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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Foreign currency exchange hedge, tax benefit	$ 2,089	$ (166)	$ 4,101	$ (160)
Securities available-for-sale, tax expense (benefit)	$ 21	$ (43)	$ 136	$ (4)

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Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2016 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Voting [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock - Common Stock Voting [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 390,713	$ 121	$ 321,215	$ (93,405)	$ 168,011	$ (5,229)
Net income	62,089				62,089
Cumulative translation adjustment and foreign currency exchange hedge, net of tax	(4,041)					(4,041)
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale, net of tax	221					221
Stock-based compensation	6,937		6,937
Exercise of stock options	2,138		2,138
Withholding tax payments on restricted stock vesting and stock option exercises	(5,585)	(1)	(5,584)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	8,573		8,573
Repurchases of common stock	(5,400)			(5,400)
Cash dividend on common stock	(19,494)				(19,494)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 436,151	$ 120	$ 333,279	$ (98,805)	$ 210,606	$ (9,049)

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 62,089	$ 48,831
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,221	9,215
Stock-based compensation expense	6,937	6,025
Deferred taxes	307	858
Other	646	1,201
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) in accounts receivable	(22,677)	(13,197)
(Increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets	(3,574)	(5,907)
(Decrease) in accrued employee compensation	(9,084)	(9,201)
(Decrease) increase in income and other tax liabilities	(1,856)	1,336
Increase in deferred revenue	294	185
Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	2,708	1,249
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(28,669)	40,595
Available-for-sale investments:
Proceeds from maturities	20,000	15,328
Purchases	(8,065)	(19,098)
Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	(3,904)	(2,345)
Capitalization of software development costs	(6,142)	(4,816)
Other	99	(4)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	1,988	(10,935)
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividend on common stock	(19,313)	(14,862)
Exercise of stock options	2,138	990
Withholding tax payments on restricted stock vesting and stock option exercises	(5,585)	(4,243)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	8,573	3,755
Repurchases of common stock	(5,400)	(14,464)
Net cash (used in) financing activities	(19,587)	(28,824)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(185)	(497)
Cash and cash equivalents
Net (decrease) increase for the period	(46,453)	339
Beginning of period	199,728	168,924
End of period	153,275	$ 169,263
Corporate Debt [Member]
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) in trading securities	(72,396)
Mutual Funds Held In Rabbi Trust [Member]
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) in trading securities	$ (1,284)

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Organization and Principal Business Activity

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization and Principal Business Activity

1. Organization and Principal Business Activity

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “MarketAxess”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on April 11, 2000.Through its subsidiaries, MarketAxess operates a leading electronic trading platform that enables fixed-income market participants to efficiently trade corporate bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments using MarketAxess' patented trading technology. Over 1,100 institutional investor and broker-dealer firms are active users of the MarketAxess trading platform, accessing global liquidity in U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds, municipal bonds, credit default swaps and other fixed-income securities. Through its Open Trading™ protocols, MarketAxess executes certain bond transactions between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller in trades which then settle through a third-party clearing broker. MarketAxess also offers a number of trading-related products and services, including: market data to assist clients with trading decisions; connectivity solutions that facilitate straight-through processing; technology services to optimize trading environments; and execution services for exchange-traded fund managers and other clients. Through its Trax® division, MarketAxess also offers a range of pre- and post-trade services, including trade matching, regulatory transaction reporting and market and reference data, across a range of fixed-income products.

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Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. These consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2015 has been derived from audited financial statements not included herein. These unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to Form 10-Q and reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are normal and recurring, and that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. In accordance with such rules and regulations, certain disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted. Interim period operating results may not be indicative of the operating results for a full year.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and money market instruments that are primarily maintained at one major global bank. Given this concentration, the Company is exposed to certain credit risk in relation to its deposits at this bank. The Company defines cash equivalents as short-term interest-bearing investments with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less.

Investments

The Company determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase which are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition on the trade date. Securities are classified as available-for-sale or trading. The Company’s available-for-sale investments are comprised of municipal bonds and investment grade corporate debt securities. Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Trading investments primarily include investment grade corporate debt securities and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses included in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company assesses whether an other-than-temporary impairment loss on the available-for-sale investments has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market conditions. The portion of an other-than-temporary impairment related to credit loss is recorded as a charge in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The remainder is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss if the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security prior to recovery. No charges for other-than-temporary losses were recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

Fair Value Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” A three-tiered hierarchy for determining fair value has been established that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used in fair value calculations. The three levels of inputs are defined as Level 1 (unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets), Level 2 (inputs that are observable in the marketplace other than those inputs classified in Level 1) and Level 3 (inputs that are unobservable in the marketplace). The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of its money market funds, securities available-for-sale, trading securities and foreign currency forward contracts. All other financial instruments are short-term in nature and the carrying amount is reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at approximate fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

All accounts receivable have contractual maturities of less than one year and are derived from trading-related fees and commissions and revenues from products and services. The Company continually monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon the historical collection experience and specific collection issues that have been identified. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are charged to bad debt expense, which is included in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Depreciation and Amortization

Fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. The Company uses the straight-line method of depreciation over three to seven years. The Company amortizes leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the remaining term of the lease.

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with the development of internal use software, including among other items, employee compensation and related benefits and third party consulting costs at the point at which the conceptual formulation, design and testing of possible software project alternatives have been completed. Once the product is ready for its intended use, such costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years. The Company reviews the amounts capitalized for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable.

Cash Provided as Collateral

Cash is provided as collateral for broker-dealer clearing accounts. Cash provided as collateral is included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Contracts

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using exchange rates at the end of the period; revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly rates. Gains and losses on foreign currency translation are a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Transaction gains and losses are recorded in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its net investment in its U.K. subsidiaries. Gains and losses on these transactions are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Revenue Recognition

The majority of the Company’s revenues are derived from commissions for trades executed on its platform and distribution fees that are billed to its broker-dealer clients on a monthly basis. The Company also derives revenues from information and post-trade services, investment income and other income.

Commission revenue. Commissions are generally calculated as a percentage of the notional dollar volume of bonds traded on the platform and vary based on the type, size, yield and maturity of the bond traded. Under the Company’s transaction fee plans, bonds that are more actively traded or that have shorter maturities are generally charged lower commissions, while bonds that are less actively traded or that have longer maturities generally command higher commissions. For trades that the Company executes between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller, the Company earns the commission through the difference in price between the two matched principal trades. Fee programs for certain products include distribution fees which are recognized monthly.

Information and post-trade services. The Company generates revenue from information services provided to our broker-dealer clients, institutional investor clients and data-only subscribers. Information services are invoiced monthly, quarterly or annually. When billed in advance, revenues are deferred and recognized monthly on a straight-line basis. The Company also generates revenue from regulatory transaction reporting and trade matching services. Revenue is recognized in the period the services are provided.

Technology products and services. The Company generates revenues from professional consulting services, technology software licenses and maintenance and support services.  Revenue is generally recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is considered probable. Technology products and services revenue is reported in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Initial set-up fees. The Company enters into agreements with its broker-dealer clients pursuant to which the Company provides access to its platform through a non-exclusive and non-transferable license. Broker-dealer clients may pay an initial set-up fee, which is typically due and payable upon execution of a dealer agreement. The initial set-up fee, if any, varies by agreement. Revenue is recognized over the initial term of the agreement, which is generally two years. Initial set-up fees are reported in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards based on their estimated fair values measured as of the grant date. These costs are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period, with an offsetting increase to additional paid-in capital.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recognized against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized in future years. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The total cost of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash flows, discount rates, growth rates and asset lives.

The Company operates as a single reporting unit. Subsequent to an acquisition, goodwill no longer retains its identification with a particular acquisition, but instead becomes identifiable with the entire reporting unit. As a result, all of the fair value of the Company is available to support the value of goodwill. An impairment review of goodwill is performed on an annual basis, at year-end, or more frequently if circumstances change. Intangible assets with definite lives, including purchased technologies, customer relationships and other intangible assets, are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to 15 years. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the existence of a possible impairment.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to common stock by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, the weighted-average shares outstanding of common stock reflects the dilutive effect that could occur if convertible securities or other contracts to issue common stock were converted into or exercised for common stock.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Out-of-Period Adjustments

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company determined that it had incorrectly recorded deferred taxes for the cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) that arises from converting the local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars.  Upon making a permanent reinvestment assertion on unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries effective January 1, 2013, the Company should have eliminated any deferred tax balances derived from the CTA balance. The Company also determined that gains and losses on the foreign currency forward contracts used to hedge the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries were not appropriately considered as taxable income or expense in the consolidated tax returns.  The Company assessed these errors and determined that they were not material to previous reporting periods.  Therefore, the Company recorded these items as out-of-period adjustments in the three months ended March 31, 2016 by decreasing deferred tax assets by $3.1 million, decreasing other comprehensive income by $2.1 million and increasing prepaid expenses and other assets by $1.0 million in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 is intended to require timelier recording of credit losses with respect to loans and other financial instruments.   The ASU will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”) and has subsequently issued a series of modifying ASUs that will not change the core principle of the guidance stated in ASU 2014-09. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. The modifying ASUs include: (i) ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”, issued in May 2016; (ii) (ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”, issued in April 2016; and (iii) ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)”, issued in March 2016.   The ASUs issued in 2016 will have the same effective date and transition requirements as the new revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09.  The Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 and its subsequent updates on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects related to the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-09 on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). The guidance affects the accounting for leases and provides for a lessee model that brings substantially all leases onto the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Net Capital Requirements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Net Capital [Abstract]

Net Capital Requirements

3. Net Capital Requirements

Certain U.S. subsidiaries of the Company are registered as a broker-dealer or swap execution facility and therefore are subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These rules contain minimum net capital requirements, as defined in the applicable regulations, and also may require a significant part of the registrants’ assets be kept in relatively liquid form. Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K. or Ontario Securities Commission in Canada and must maintain financial resources, as defined in the applicable regulations, in excess of the applicable financial resources requirement. As of June 30, 2016, each of the Company’s subsidiaries that are subject to these regulations had net capital or financial resources in excess of their minimum requirements. As of June 30, 2016, the Company’s subsidiaries maintained aggregate net capital and financial resources that was $116.8 million in excess of the required levels of $10.0 million.

Each of the Company’s U.S. and foreign regulated subsidiaries are subject to local regulations which generally prohibit repayment of borrowings from the Company or affiliates, paying cash dividends, making loans to the Company or affiliates or otherwise entering into transactions that result in a significant reduction in regulatory net capital or financial resources without prior notification to or approval from such regulated entity’s principal regulator.

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Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

4. Fair Value Measurements

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as categorized based on the hierarchy described in Note 2.

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Money market funds	$	36,970	$	—	$	—	$	36,970
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt		—		72,650		—		72,650
Trading securities
Corporate debt		—		72,396		—		72,396
Mutual funds held in rabbi trust		—		1,284		—		1,284
Foreign currency forward position		—		5,518		—		5,518
Total	$	36,970	$	151,848	$	—	$	188,818
As of December 31, 2015
Money market funds	$	61,913	$	—	$	—	$	61,913
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt		—		82,671		—		82,671
Municipal securities		—		2,035		—		2,035
Foreign currency forward position		—		354		—		354
Total	$	61,913	$	85,060	$	—	$	146,973

Securities classified within Level 2 were valued using a market approach utilizing prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving comparable assets. The foreign currency forward contracts are classified within Level 2 as the valuation inputs are based on quoted market prices. The mutual funds held in a rabbi trust represent investments associated with the deferred cash incentive plan. See Note 14 to these Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the deferred cash incentive plan.  There were no financial assets classified within Level 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.   

  The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the net investment in the Company’s U.K. subsidiaries. The Company designates each foreign currency forward contract as a hedge and assesses the risk management objective and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure and how effectiveness is to be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. These hedges are for a one-month period and are used to limit exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The fair value of the asset is included in prepaid expenses and other assets and the fair value of the liability is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedges are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  A summary of the Company’s foreign currency forward position is as follows:

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Notional value	$	58,463	$	45,716
Fair value of notional		52,945		45,362
Fair value of the asset	$	5,518	$	354

The following is a summary of the Company’s investments:

			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	Amortized		unrealized		unrealized			fair
	cost		gains		losses			value
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt	$	72,558	$	116	$	(24	)	$	72,650
Total securities available-for-sale		72,558		116		(24	)		72,650
Trading securities
Corporate debt		72,119		292		(15	)		72,396
Mutual funds held in rabbi trust		1,167		117		—			1,284
Total trading securities		73,286		409		(15	)		73,680
Total investments	$	145,844	$	525	$	(39	)	$	146,330
As of December 31, 2015
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt	$	82,937	$	4	$	(270	)	$	82,671
Municipal securities		2,035		—		—			2,035
Total securities available-for-sale	$	84,972	$	4	$	(270	)	$	84,706

The following table summarizes the fair value of the investments based upon the contractual maturities:

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Less than one year	$	68,122	$	37,694
Due in 1 - 5 years		78,208		47,012
Total	$	146,330	$	84,706

Proceeds from the sales and maturities of investments during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $29.6 million and $15.3 million, respectively.

The following table provides fair values and unrealized losses on investments and by the aging of the securities’ continuous unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

	Less than Twelve Months					Twelve Months or More				Total
	Estimated		Gross			Estimated		Gross		Estimated		Gross
	fair		unrealized			fair		unrealized		fair		unrealized
	value		losses			value		losses		value		losses
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Corporate debt	$	23,507	$	(39	)	$	—	$	—	$	23,507	$	(39	)
As of December 31, 2015
Corporate debt	$	70,651	$	(270	)	$	—	$	—	$	70,651	$	(270	)

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives was $59.7 million as of both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Intangible assets that are subject to amortization, including the related accumulated amortization, are comprised of the following:

	June 30, 2016							December 31, 2015
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	(In thousands)
Technology	$	5,770	$	(5,770	)	$	—	$	5,770	$	(5,492	)	$	278
Customer relationships		5,644		(1,722	)		3,922		5,668		(1,553	)		4,115
Non-competition agreements		380		(380	)		—		380		(359	)		21
Tradenames		370		(370	)		—		370		(353	)		17
Total	$	12,164	$	(8,242	)	$	3,922	$	12,188	$	(7,757	)	$	4,431

Amortization expense associated with identifiable intangible assets was $0.5 million and $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Estimated total amortization expense is $0.7 million for 2016, and $0.4 million for each of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

6. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015			2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Current:
Federal	$	10,546	$	9,774		$	17,624	$	17,090
State and local		1,871		1,720			3,160		3,198
Foreign		1,750		1,434			2,885		1,955
Total current provision		14,167		12,928			23,669		22,243
Deferred:
Federal		2,836		64			7,813		3,904
State and local		406		6			1,119		630
Foreign		16		(177	)		231		(47	)
Total deferred provision		3,258		(107	)		9,163		4,487
Provision for income taxes	$	17,425	$	12,821		$	32,832	$	26,730

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. Income tax returns for New York City (through 2003) and state (through 2009) and Connecticut state (through 2003) tax returns have been audited. Examinations of the Company’s federal tax returns for 2011 through 2013 and New York State tax returns for 2010 through 2013 are currently underway. The Company cannot estimate when the examinations will conclude or the impact such examinations will have on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, if any.

The Company has determined that unremitted earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States.

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Stock-Based Compensation Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

7. Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Employees	$	3,299	$	2,900	$	6,575	$	5,639
Non-employee directors		144		150		362		386
Total stock-based compensation	$	3,443	$	3,050	$	6,937	$	6,025

The Company records stock-based compensation for employees in employee compensation and benefits and for non-employee directors in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

  During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company granted to employees a total of 94,915 shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units, performance-based shares with an expected pay-out at target of 48,899 shares of common stock and 112,988 options to purchase shares of common stock. The fair value of the restricted stock and performance-based share awards was based on a weighted-average fair value per share at the grant date of $102.53 and $102.82, respectively. Based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the weighted-average fair value for each option granted was $31.80 per share.

  As of June 30, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested awards was $28.4 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

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Earnings Per Share

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

8. Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	33,126	$	24,238	$	62,089	$	48,831
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		36,876		36,699		36,826		36,703
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock		872		943		884		931
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		37,748		37,642		37,710		37,634
Basic earnings per share	$	0.90	$	0.66	$	1.69	$	1.33
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.88	$	0.64	$	1.65	$	1.30

Stock options and restricted stock totaling 91,308 shares and 131,329 shares for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and 164,766 shares and 190,588 shares for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive. The computation of diluted shares can vary among periods due, in part, to the change in the average price of the Company’s common stock.

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Credit Agreement

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Credit Agreement

9. Credit Agreement

In January 2013, the Company entered into a three-year credit agreement that provided for revolving loans and letters of credit up to an aggregate of $50.0 million. In October 2015, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) that increased the borrowing capacity to an aggregate of $100.0 million, including a $5.0 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit. The Credit Agreement will mature in October 2017. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $0.9 million in letters of credit outstanding leaving $99.1 million available to borrow under the Credit Agreement. Subject to satisfaction of certain specified conditions, the Company is permitted to upsize the borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement by an additional $50.0 million.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either of the following, as designated by the Company for each borrowing: (A) the sum of (i) the greatest of (a) the prime rate, as defined, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% plus (ii) 0.50% or (B) the sum of (i) adjusted LIBOR plus (ii) 1.50%. Default interest is 2.00% per annum in excess of the rate otherwise applicable in the case of any overdue principal or any other overdue amount. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Credit Agreement in respect of unutilized revolving loan commitments at a rate of 0.40% per annum.

The Company’s existing and future domestic subsidiaries (other than any regulated subsidiary) have guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement. Subject to customary exceptions and exclusions, the Company’s borrowings under the Credit Agreement are collateralized by first priority pledges (subject to permitted liens) of substantially all of the Company’s personal property assets and the personal property assets of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that have guaranteed the Credit Agreement, including the equity interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and the equity interests of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries (limited, in the case of the voting equity interests of the foreign subsidiaries, to a pledge of 65% of those equity interests).

The Credit Agreement requires that the Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter not exceed 2.5 to 1.0 and a consolidated interest coverage ratio tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter not be less than 3.5 to 1.0. The Credit Agreement also requires that the Company’s trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter not be less than $80 million. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

If an event of default occurs, including failure to pay principal or interest due on the loan balance, a voluntary or involuntary proceeding seeking liquidation, change in control of the Company, or one or more material judgments against the Company in excess of $10.0 million, the lenders would be entitled to accelerate the borrowings under the Credit Agreement and take various other actions, including all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor. If certain bankruptcy events of default occur, the borrowings under the Credit Agreement will automatically accelerate.

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Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

10. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company leases office space under non-cancelable lease agreements expiring at various dates through 2027. Office space leases are subject to escalation based on certain costs incurred by the landlord. Minimum rental commitments as of June 30, 2016 under such operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

Remainder of 2016	$	1,643
2017		3,210
2018		2,930
2019		2,751
2020		2,751
2021 and thereafter		8,028
	$	21,313

Rental expense was $2.1 million and $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in occupancy expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Rental expense has been recorded based on the total minimum lease payments after giving effect to rent abatement and concessions, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. The Company is contingently obligated for standby letters of credit amounting to $0.9 million that were issued to landlords for office space.

The Company has assigned a lease agreement on a leased property to a third party and is contingently liable should the assignee default on future lease obligations through the November 2020 lease termination date.  The aggregate amount of the future lease obligation under this arrangement is $1.2 million as of June 30, 2016.

Legal Matters

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements may be involved in various lawsuits, proceedings and regulatory examinations.  The Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings, if any, utilizing the latest information available. For matters where it is probable that the Company will incur a material loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company would establish an accrual for the loss. Once established, the accrual would be adjusted to reflect any relevant developments. When a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, the Company does not establish an accrual.

Based on currently available information, the outcome of the Company’s outstanding matters is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position. It is not presently possible to determine the ultimate exposure to these matters and there is no assurance that the resolution of the outstanding matters will not significantly exceed any reserves accrued by the Company.

Other

The Company, through two regulated subsidiaries, executes certain bond transactions between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller in trades which settle through third-party clearing brokers. Settlement typically occurs within one to three trading days after the trade date. Cash settlement of the transaction occurs upon receipt or delivery of the underlying instrument that was traded. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, revenues from matched principal trading were approximately $16.4 million and $7.4 million, respectively. Under securities clearing agreements with third party clearing brokers, the Company maintains collateral deposits with each clearing broker in the form of cash. As of June 30, 2016, the amount of the collateral deposits included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition was $1.4 million compared to $1.5 million at December 31, 2015. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, clearing expenses associated with matched principal transactions were $3.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, and are classified under general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event a counterparty does not fulfill its obligation to complete a transaction or if there is a miscommunication or other error in executing a matched principal transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the securities clearing agreements, the clearing broker has the right to charge the Company for losses resulting from a counterparty credit failure. The losses are not capped at a maximum amount and apply to all trades executed through the clearing broker. The Company did not record any liabilities or losses with regard to this right for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties and general indemnifications. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Company expects the risk of loss to be remote.

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Customer Concentration

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Risks And Uncertainties [Abstract]

Customer Concentration

11. Customer Concentration

During both the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, no single client accounted for more than 10% of total revenue. One institutional investor client accounted for 15.3% and 14.5% of trading volumes during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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Share Repurchase Program

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Share Repurchase Program

12. Share Repurchase Program

In January 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a share repurchase program for up to $35.0 million of the Company’s common stock. In July 2014, the Board of Directors increased the authorization under the share repurchase program by an additional $65.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The share repurchase program expired on February 29, 2016. In January 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a new two-year share repurchase program for up to $25.0 million of the Company’s common stock. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company repurchased 41,667 shares of common stock at a cost of $5.4 million. As of June 30, 2016, approximately $19.6 million remains authorized for repurchase under the program.  Shares repurchased under each program will be held in treasury for future use.

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Segment and Geographic Information

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment and Geographic Information

13. Segment and Geographic Information

The Company operates an electronic multi-party platform for the trading of fixed-income securities and provides related data, analytics, compliance tools and post-trade services. The Company considers its operations to constitute a single business segment because of the highly integrated nature of these product and services, of the financial markets in which the Company competes and of the Company’s worldwide business activities. The Company believes that results by geographic region or client sector are not necessarily meaningful in understanding its business.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the U.K. was the only individual foreign country in which the Company had a subsidiary that accounted for 10% or more of the total revenues or total long-lived assets of the Company.  Revenues and long-lived assets are attributed to a geographic area based on the location of the particular subsidiary. Long-lived assets are defined as furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized software. Information regarding revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 and long-lived assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Revenues
United States	$	82,144	$	65,937	$	157,518	$	132,390
United Kingdom		14,027		9,200		26,732		19,264
Other		468		354		962		608
Total	$	96,639	$	75,491	$	185,212	$	152,262

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Long-lived assets, as defined
United States	$	23,296	$	21,968
United Kingdom		8,176		8,910
Other		23		19
Total	$	31,495	$	30,897

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Deferred Compensation Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Deferred Compensation Plans

14. Deferred Compensation Plans

In 2015, the Company adopted a non-qualified deferred cash incentive plan for certain officers and other employees. Under the plan, eligible employees may defer up to 100% of their annual cash incentive pay.  The Company has elected to fund its deferred compensation obligations through a rabbi trust.  The rabbi trust is subject to creditor claims in the event of insolvency but such assets are not available for general corporate purposes.  Assets held in the rabbi trust are invested in mutual funds, as selected by the participants, which are designated as trading securities and carried at fair value.  The initial deferrals of $1.2 million occurred in January 2016 and as of June 30, 2016, the fair value of the mutual fund investments was $1.3 million.  Changes in the fair value of securities held in the rabbi trust will be recognized as trading gains and losses and included in other revenues and offsetting increases or decreases in the deferred compensation obligation will be recorded in employee compensation and benefits. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the trading gains and compensation expense were each $0.1 million.

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. These consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2015 has been derived from audited financial statements not included herein. These unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to Form 10-Q and reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are normal and recurring, and that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. In accordance with such rules and regulations, certain disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted. Interim period operating results may not be indicative of the operating results for a full year.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and money market instruments that are primarily maintained at one major global bank. Given this concentration, the Company is exposed to certain credit risk in relation to its deposits at this bank. The Company defines cash equivalents as short-term interest-bearing investments with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less.

Investments

Investments

The Company determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase which are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition on the trade date. Securities are classified as available-for-sale or trading. The Company’s available-for-sale investments are comprised of municipal bonds and investment grade corporate debt securities. Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Trading investments primarily include investment grade corporate debt securities and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses included in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company assesses whether an other-than-temporary impairment loss on the available-for-sale investments has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market conditions. The portion of an other-than-temporary impairment related to credit loss is recorded as a charge in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The remainder is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss if the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security prior to recovery. No charges for other-than-temporary losses were recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

Fair Value Financial Instruments

Fair Value Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” A three-tiered hierarchy for determining fair value has been established that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used in fair value calculations. The three levels of inputs are defined as Level 1 (unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets), Level 2 (inputs that are observable in the marketplace other than those inputs classified in Level 1) and Level 3 (inputs that are unobservable in the marketplace). The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of its money market funds, securities available-for-sale, trading securities and foreign currency forward contracts. All other financial instruments are short-term in nature and the carrying amount is reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at approximate fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

All accounts receivable have contractual maturities of less than one year and are derived from trading-related fees and commissions and revenues from products and services. The Company continually monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon the historical collection experience and specific collection issues that have been identified. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are charged to bad debt expense, which is included in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and Amortization

Fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. The Company uses the straight-line method of depreciation over three to seven years. The Company amortizes leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the remaining term of the lease.

Software Development Costs

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with the development of internal use software, including among other items, employee compensation and related benefits and third party consulting costs at the point at which the conceptual formulation, design and testing of possible software project alternatives have been completed. Once the product is ready for its intended use, such costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years. The Company reviews the amounts capitalized for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable.

Cash Provided as Collateral

Cash Provided as Collateral

Cash is provided as collateral for broker-dealer clearing accounts. Cash provided as collateral is included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Contracts

Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Contracts

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using exchange rates at the end of the period; revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly rates. Gains and losses on foreign currency translation are a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Transaction gains and losses are recorded in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its net investment in its U.K. subsidiaries. Gains and losses on these transactions are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The majority of the Company’s revenues are derived from commissions for trades executed on its platform and distribution fees that are billed to its broker-dealer clients on a monthly basis. The Company also derives revenues from information and post-trade services, investment income and other income.

Commission revenue. Commissions are generally calculated as a percentage of the notional dollar volume of bonds traded on the platform and vary based on the type, size, yield and maturity of the bond traded. Under the Company’s transaction fee plans, bonds that are more actively traded or that have shorter maturities are generally charged lower commissions, while bonds that are less actively traded or that have longer maturities generally command higher commissions. For trades that the Company executes between and among institutional investor and broker-dealer clients on a matched principal basis by serving as counterparty to both the buyer and the seller, the Company earns the commission through the difference in price between the two matched principal trades. Fee programs for certain products include distribution fees which are recognized monthly.

Information and post-trade services. The Company generates revenue from information services provided to our broker-dealer clients, institutional investor clients and data-only subscribers. Information services are invoiced monthly, quarterly or annually. When billed in advance, revenues are deferred and recognized monthly on a straight-line basis. The Company also generates revenue from regulatory transaction reporting and trade matching services. Revenue is recognized in the period the services are provided.

Technology products and services. The Company generates revenues from professional consulting services, technology software licenses and maintenance and support services.  Revenue is generally recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is considered probable. Technology products and services revenue is reported in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Initial set-up fees. The Company enters into agreements with its broker-dealer clients pursuant to which the Company provides access to its platform through a non-exclusive and non-transferable license. Broker-dealer clients may pay an initial set-up fee, which is typically due and payable upon execution of a dealer agreement. The initial set-up fee, if any, varies by agreement. Revenue is recognized over the initial term of the agreement, which is generally two years. Initial set-up fees are reported in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards based on their estimated fair values measured as of the grant date. These costs are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period, with an offsetting increase to additional paid-in capital.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recognized against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized in future years. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The total cost of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash flows, discount rates, growth rates and asset lives.

The Company operates as a single reporting unit. Subsequent to an acquisition, goodwill no longer retains its identification with a particular acquisition, but instead becomes identifiable with the entire reporting unit. As a result, all of the fair value of the Company is available to support the value of goodwill. An impairment review of goodwill is performed on an annual basis, at year-end, or more frequently if circumstances change. Intangible assets with definite lives, including purchased technologies, customer relationships and other intangible assets, are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to 15 years. Intangible assets are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the existence of a possible impairment.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to common stock by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, the weighted-average shares outstanding of common stock reflects the dilutive effect that could occur if convertible securities or other contracts to issue common stock were converted into or exercised for common stock.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Out-of-Period Adjustments

Out-of-Period Adjustments

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company determined that it had incorrectly recorded deferred taxes for the cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) that arises from converting the local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars.  Upon making a permanent reinvestment assertion on unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries effective January 1, 2013, the Company should have eliminated any deferred tax balances derived from the CTA balance. The Company also determined that gains and losses on the foreign currency forward contracts used to hedge the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries were not appropriately considered as taxable income or expense in the consolidated tax returns.  The Company assessed these errors and determined that they were not material to previous reporting periods.  Therefore, the Company recorded these items as out-of-period adjustments in the three months ended March 31, 2016 by decreasing deferred tax assets by $3.1 million, decreasing other comprehensive income by $2.1 million and increasing prepaid expenses and other assets by $1.0 million in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 is intended to require timelier recording of credit losses with respect to loans and other financial instruments.   The ASU will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”) and has subsequently issued a series of modifying ASUs that will not change the core principle of the guidance stated in ASU 2014-09. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. The modifying ASUs include: (i) ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”, issued in May 2016; (ii) (ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”, issued in April 2016; and (iii) ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)”, issued in March 2016.   The ASUs issued in 2016 will have the same effective date and transition requirements as the new revenue standard issued in ASU 2014-09.  The Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 and its subsequent updates on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects related to the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-09 on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). The guidance affects the accounting for leases and provides for a lessee model that brings substantially all leases onto the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Valuation of Company's Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as categorized based on the hierarchy described in Note 2.

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Money market funds	$	36,970	$	—	$	—	$	36,970
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt		—		72,650		—		72,650
Trading securities
Corporate debt		—		72,396		—		72,396
Mutual funds held in rabbi trust		—		1,284		—		1,284
Foreign currency forward position		—		5,518		—		5,518
Total	$	36,970	$	151,848	$	—	$	188,818
As of December 31, 2015
Money market funds	$	61,913	$	—	$	—	$	61,913
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt		—		82,671		—		82,671
Municipal securities		—		2,035		—		2,035
Foreign currency forward position		—		354		—		354
Total	$	61,913	$	85,060	$	—	$	146,973

Summary of Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

A summary of the Company’s foreign currency forward position is as follows:

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Notional value	$	58,463	$	45,716
Fair value of notional		52,945		45,362
Fair value of the asset	$	5,518	$	354

Summary of Company's Investments

The following is a summary of the Company’s investments:

			Gross		Gross			Estimated
	Amortized		unrealized		unrealized			fair
	cost		gains		losses			value
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt	$	72,558	$	116	$	(24	)	$	72,650
Total securities available-for-sale		72,558		116		(24	)		72,650
Trading securities
Corporate debt		72,119		292		(15	)		72,396
Mutual funds held in rabbi trust		1,167		117		—			1,284
Total trading securities		73,286		409		(15	)		73,680
Total investments	$	145,844	$	525	$	(39	)	$	146,330
As of December 31, 2015
Securities available-for-sale
Corporate debt	$	82,937	$	4	$	(270	)	$	82,671
Municipal securities		2,035		—		—			2,035
Total securities available-for-sale	$	84,972	$	4	$	(270	)	$	84,706

Summary of Fair Value of Investments Based upon Contractual Maturities

The following table summarizes the fair value of the investments based upon the contractual maturities:

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Less than one year	$	68,122	$	37,694
Due in 1 - 5 years		78,208		47,012
Total	$	146,330	$	84,706

Fair Values and Unrealized Losses on Investments

The following table provides fair values and unrealized losses on investments and by the aging of the securities’ continuous unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

	Less than Twelve Months					Twelve Months or More				Total
	Estimated		Gross			Estimated		Gross		Estimated		Gross
	fair		unrealized			fair		unrealized		fair		unrealized
	value		losses			value		losses		value		losses
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2016
Corporate debt	$	23,507	$	(39	)	$	—	$	—	$	23,507	$	(39	)
As of December 31, 2015
Corporate debt	$	70,651	$	(270	)	$	—	$	—	$	70,651	$	(270	)

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Company's Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives was $59.7 million as of both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Intangible assets that are subject to amortization, including the related accumulated amortization, are comprised of the following:

	June 30, 2016							December 31, 2015
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	(In thousands)
Technology	$	5,770	$	(5,770	)	$	—	$	5,770	$	(5,492	)	$	278
Customer relationships		5,644		(1,722	)		3,922		5,668		(1,553	)		4,115
Non-competition agreements		380		(380	)		—		380		(359	)		21
Tradenames		370		(370	)		—		370		(353	)		17
Total	$	12,164	$	(8,242	)	$	3,922	$	12,188	$	(7,757	)	$	4,431

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Income Taxes (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015			2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Current:
Federal	$	10,546	$	9,774		$	17,624	$	17,090
State and local		1,871		1,720			3,160		3,198
Foreign		1,750		1,434			2,885		1,955
Total current provision		14,167		12,928			23,669		22,243
Deferred:
Federal		2,836		64			7,813		3,904
State and local		406		6			1,119		630
Foreign		16		(177	)		231		(47	)
Total deferred provision		3,258		(107	)		9,163		4,487
Provision for income taxes	$	17,425	$	12,821		$	32,832	$	26,730

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Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Employees	$	3,299	$	2,900	$	6,575	$	5,639
Non-employee directors		144		150		362		386
Total stock-based compensation	$	3,443	$	3,050	$	6,937	$	6,025

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	33,126	$	24,238	$	62,089	$	48,831
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		36,876		36,699		36,826		36,703
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock		872		943		884		931
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		37,748		37,642		37,710		37,634
Basic earnings per share	$	0.90	$	0.66	$	1.69	$	1.33
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.88	$	0.64	$	1.65	$	1.30

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Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Minimum Rental Commitments under Operating Leases

Minimum rental commitments as of June 30, 2016 under such operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

Remainder of 2016	$	1,643
2017		3,210
2018		2,930
2019		2,751
2020		2,751
2021 and thereafter		8,028
	$	21,313

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Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summary of Revenue and Long-lived Assets

Information regarding revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 and long-lived assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Revenues
United States	$	82,144	$	65,937	$	157,518	$	132,390
United Kingdom		14,027		9,200		26,732		19,264
Other		468		354		962		608
Total	$	96,639	$	75,491	$	185,212	$	152,262

	As of
	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Long-lived assets, as defined
United States	$	23,296	$	21,968
United Kingdom		8,176		8,910
Other		23		19
Total	$	31,495	$	30,897

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Organization and Principal Business Activity - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Date of incorporation	Apr. 11, 2000

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Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum maturity period for classification of investments as cash equivalents	3 months
Investments other-than-temporary losses	$ 0	$ 0
Term of agreement for revenue recognition	2 years
Other comprehensive income	$ (9,049,000)			$ (5,229,000)
Deferred tax assets, net	6,057,000			9,229,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	$ 13,463,000			$ 9,880,000
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other comprehensive income			$ 2,100,000
Deferred tax assets, net			3,100,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets			$ 1,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contractual maturities accounts receivable	1 year
Estimated useful life of fixed assets	7 years
Maximum [Member] | Business Combinations [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated life of intangible assets	15 years
Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of fixed assets	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Business Combinations [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated life of intangible assets	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Internally Developed Software [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated life of intangible assets	3 years

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Net Capital Requirements - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Brokers And Dealers [Abstract]
Aggregate net capital and financial resources in excess of required level	$ 116.8
Aggregate net capital and financial resources, minimum capital requirement	$ 10.0

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Fair Value Measurements - Valuation of Company's Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Money market funds	$ 36,970	$ 61,913
Securities available-for-sale	72,650	84,706
Trading securities	73,680
Assets Fair Value Total	188,818	146,973
Corporate Debt [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale	72,650	82,671
Trading securities	72,396
Mutual Funds Held In Rabbi Trust [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities	1,284
Municipal Securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale		2,035
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward position	5,518	354
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Money market funds	36,970	61,913
Assets Fair Value Total	36,970	61,913
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Fair Value Total	151,848	85,060
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Debt [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale	72,650	82,671
Trading securities	72,396
Level 2 [Member] | Mutual Funds Held In Rabbi Trust [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading securities	1,284
Level 2 [Member] | Municipal Securities [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale		2,035
Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward position	$ 5,518	$ 354

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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Hedge derivative expiration period	1 month
Proceeds from the sales and maturities of securities available-for-sale	$ 29.6	$ 15.3

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Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Foreign Currency Forward Contract (Detail) - Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional value	$ 58,463	$ 45,716
Fair value of notional	52,945	45,362
Fair value of the asset	5,518	354
Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of the asset	$ 5,518	$ 354

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Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Company's Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale, Amortized cost	$ 72,558	$ 84,972
Securities available-for-sale, Gross unrealized gains	116	4
Securities available-for-sale, Gross unrealized losses	(24)	(270)
Securities available-for-sale, Estimated fair value	72,650	84,706
Trading securities, Amortized cost	73,286
Trading securities, Gross unrealized gains	409
Trading securities, Gross unrealized losses	(15)
Trading securities, Estimated fair value	73,680
Investments, Amortized cost	145,844
Investments, Gross unrealized gains	525
Investments, Gross unrealized losses	(39)
Investments, Estimated fair value	146,330	84,706
Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale, Amortized cost	72,558	82,937
Securities available-for-sale, Gross unrealized gains	116	4
Securities available-for-sale, Gross unrealized losses	(24)	(270)
Securities available-for-sale, Estimated fair value	72,650	82,671
Trading securities, Amortized cost	72,119
Trading securities, Gross unrealized gains	292
Trading securities, Gross unrealized losses	(15)
Trading securities, Estimated fair value	72,396
Municipal Securities [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Securities available-for-sale, Amortized cost		2,035
Securities available-for-sale, Estimated fair value		$ 2,035
Mutual Funds Held In Rabbi Trust [Member]
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Trading securities, Amortized cost	1,167
Trading securities, Gross unrealized gains	117
Trading securities, Estimated fair value	$ 1,284

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Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Fair Value of Investments Based upon Contractual Maturities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Less than one year	$ 68,122	$ 37,694
Due in 1 - 5 years	78,208	47,012
Total	$ 146,330	$ 84,706

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Fair Value Measurements - Fair Values and Unrealized Losses on Investments (Detail) - Corporate Debt [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Less than Twelve Months, Estimated fair value	$ 23,507	$ 70,651
Less than Twelve Months, Gross unrealized losses	(39)	(270)
Estimated fair value, Total	23,507	70,651
Gross unrealized losses, Total	$ (39)	$ (270)

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives	$ 63,635		$ 64,142
Amortization expense associated with identifiable intangible assets	500	$ 1,100
Estimated total amortization expense 2016	700
Estimated total amortization expense 2017	400
Estimated total amortization expense 2018	400
Estimated total amortization expense 2019	400
Estimated total amortization expense 2020	400
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives	$ 59,700		$ 59,700

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Company's Intangible Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	$ 12,164	$ 12,188
Accumulated Amortization	(8,242)	(7,757)
Net Carrying Amount	3,922	4,431
Technology [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	5,770	5,770
Accumulated Amortization	(5,770)	(5,492)
Net Carrying Amount		278
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	5,644	5,668
Accumulated Amortization	(1,722)	(1,553)
Net Carrying Amount	3,922	4,115
Non-Competition Agreements [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	380	380
Accumulated Amortization	(380)	(359)
Net Carrying Amount		21
Tradenames - Finite Life [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	370	370
Accumulated Amortization	$ (370)	(353)
Net Carrying Amount		$ 17

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Income Taxes - Schedule of Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Current:
Federal	$ 10,546	$ 9,774	$ 17,624	$ 17,090
State and local	1,871	1,720	3,160	3,198
Foreign	1,750	1,434	2,885	1,955
Total current provision	14,167	12,928	23,669	22,243
Deferred:
Federal	2,836	64	7,813	3,904
State and local	406	6	1,119	630
Foreign	16	(177)	231	(47)
Total deferred provision	3,258	(107)	9,163	4,487
Provision for income taxes	$ 17,425	$ 12,821	$ 32,832	$ 26,730

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Stock-Based Compensation Plans - Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation	$ 3,443	$ 3,050	$ 6,937	$ 6,025
Employees [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation	3,299	2,900	6,575	5,639
Non-Employee Directors [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation	$ 144	$ 150	$ 362	$ 386

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Stock-Based Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested | $	$ 28.4
Weighted-average period over which cost is expected to be recognized	2 years 8 months 12 days
Employees [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of non-option equity instruments granted during the period | shares	94,915
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share | $ / shares	$ 102.53
Employees [Member] | Performance Based Share [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of non-option equity instruments granted during the period | shares	48,899
Number of options to purchase shares of common stock | shares	112,988
Weighted-average fair value each option granted | $ / shares	$ 31.80
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share | $ / shares	$ 102.82

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Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]
Net income	$ 33,126	$ 24,238	$ 62,089	$ 48,831
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	36,876	36,699	36,826	36,703
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock	872	943	884	931
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	37,748	37,642	37,710	37,634
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.90	$ 0.66	$ 1.69	$ 1.33
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.88	$ 0.64	$ 1.65	$ 1.30

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Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) - shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Stock Options and Restricted Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Stock options and restricted stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	91,308	131,329	164,766	190,588

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Credit Agreement - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving loans and letters of credit	$ 50,000,000		$ 100,000,000
Letter of credit outstanding		$ 900,000
Additional Credit Agreement	$ 50,000,000
Amount available under credit agreement		$ 99,100,000
Period of credit agreement	3 years
LIBOR rate description		(A) the sum of (i) the greatest of (a) the prime rate, as defined, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (c) one month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% plus (ii) 0.50% or (B) the sum of (i) adjusted LIBOR plus (ii) 1.50%
Federal funds effective rate		0.50%
One month adjusted LIBOR		1.00%
LIBOR Rate		0.50%
Adjusted LIBOR rate		1.50%
Interest per annum		2.00%
Revolving loan commitment rate		0.40%
Equity interest		65.00%
Maximum [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total leverage ratio		250.00%
Minimum [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest coverage ratio		350.00%
Adjusted EBITDA		$ 80,000,000
Excess judgments against the company		$ 10,000,000
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving loans and letters of credit			$ 5,000,000
Credit Agreement [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expiration period of credit agreement		Oct. 31, 2017

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Commitments and Contingencies - Summary of Minimum Rental Commitments under Operating Leases (Detail) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	$ 1,643
2017	3,210
2018	2,930
2019	2,751
2020	2,751
2021 and thereafter	8,028
Operating Leases	$ 21,313

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Agreement Subsidiary	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Rental expense	$ 2.1	$ 1.9
Number of lease agreements assigned to third parties | Agreement	1
Lease termination dates	2020-11
Future lease obligation under sublease arrangements	$ 1.2
Number of subsidiaries | Subsidiary	2
Settlement days of bond transaction	Within one to three trading days
Revenues from riskless principal transactions	$ 16.4	7.4
Collateral deposits	1.4		$ 1.5
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Clearing expenses	3.7	$ 1.4
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent obligation for standby letter of credit issued to Landlord	$ 0.9

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Customer Concentration - Additional Information (Detail) - Customer	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of client accounted for more than 10% of total revenue	0	0
Customer Concentration Risk | Trading Volume
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of trading volumes by single client	15.30%	14.50%

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Share Repurchase Program - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Shares repurchase program authorized		$ 25,000,000	$ 65,000,000	$ 35,000,000
Common stock shares repurchased	41,667
Cost of common stock shares repurchased	$ 5,400,000
Shares repurchase program expiration date	Feb. 29, 2016
Dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under share repurchase program	$ 19,600,000

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Segment and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Total Revenue and Long-lived Assets [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%

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Segment and Geographic Information - Summary of Revenue and Long-lived Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 96,639	$ 75,491	$ 185,212	$ 152,262
Long-lived assets	31,495		31,495		$ 30,897
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	82,144	65,937	157,518	132,390
Long-lived assets	23,296		23,296		21,968
United Kingdom [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	14,027	9,200	26,732	19,264
Long-lived assets	8,176		8,176		8,910
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	468	$ 354	962	$ 608
Long-lived assets	$ 23		$ 23		$ 19

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Deferred Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2016
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Initial deferrals occurred			$ 1.2
Non-qualified deferred cash incentive plan maximum eligibility percentage of employees		100.00%
Mutual fund investments, at fair value	$ 1.3
Trading gain and compensation expense	$ 0.1