Order Audit Trail System (OATS)
Candlefocus EditorOATS requires all member firms, particularly broker-dealers, to report order details and provide detailed information so that the orders can be monitored, tracked, and audited. This includes details like trade dates, decision times, and transaction prices.
The primary purpose of the OATS is to provide a better audit trails for order routing and tracking securities transactions. This creates a record that can be used as an evidence in case of any proceedings related to irregular activities or inadvertent errors. The process of collecting and reporting this information helps FINRA identify such irregularities. Moreover, OATS also allows FINRA to review the data, look for potentially abusive trading activity and market manipulation, and help detect irregularities in order execution or trade pricing.
By having the OATS in place, traders and investors are more assured that the orders placed with their brokers and the transactions carried out will be more effectively monitored and recorded. Member firms must ensure that all orders executed by firms are reported accurately to FINRA and that all the order data is suitable for investigative purposes. Firms need to install OATS-compliant technology to automate the recording and reporting of order data and to adjust their existing systems to match FINRA’s OATS requirements.
Overall, the order audit trail system (OATS) is a crucial regulatory mechanism that safeguards the interests of traders and investors in the securities industry, aiming to reduce any potential risks to investors by providing a more stringent audit trail for order routing and post-trade analysis. The OATS system also helps FINRA to identify and investigate any allegations of marketing misconduct and any indications of irregular trading patterns.