http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/b...er-rules-shaking-up-fixed-income-trading.html I always wondered how the big banks succeeded in keeping this market private and opaque for so long, charging ridiculous spreads even to big institutional customers like pension funds. Looks like this dark alley will finally see the light of transparency and competitive markets.
big institutional customers like pension funds are the biggest fish. Also, large corps that need to hedge or invest shortterm (ie. rate swaps). I think this is the case in not only trading/investing but most things; the employees of the large firms have no skin in the game so dont care paying more