Supplier-led marketplaces and linking marketplaces are still at an early stage of development. But there will doubtless be dramatic failures as well as quiet successes. If companies such as ICL, Infobank and eLabsEurope have their way, corporates will inevitably trade more online and stride confidently into an electronic trading future. The EC ruling comes shortly after a similar endorsement of office-supplies exchange Emaro. E-marketplaces tend to form around existing companies in niche industry markets.
Concern remains over possible price fixing and the possibility of smaller firms being locked out.
Concerns over these new exchanges have been somewhat dampened by the finding that many ventures remain on the drawing board or are simply failing to attract significant traffic.