GIC is a Singaporean sovereign wealth fund that describes itself as a global long-term investor. The fund managed an estimated $936 billion as of last year, according to data platform Global SWF.
Traders Magazine interviewed Travis Ni, Head of Equities Trading Americas at GIC, to learn more about the profile of GIC’s trading desk, as well as its capabilities and current initiatives.
The interview, which took place Feb. 26 at GIC’s New York office, has been edited for length and clarity.
Briefly discuss your background and current role/responsibilities at GIC.
I am the Head of Equities Trading Americas at GIC, based in New York. I oversee all equities trading activities across the region and lead initiatives in trading technology and AI development.
I joined GIC in 2018 as a cross-asset trader, focusing on liquid products such as equities, futures, and FX. In 2022, my responsibilities expanded to include cash equities high-touch trading, equity derivatives, and ECM.
Before joining GIC, I worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, specializing in algorithmic trading, market structure, and alternative trading systems. My passion for quantitative trading led me to pursue a master’s degree in financial engineering at Columbia University after earning my undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I triple-majored in mathematics, economics, and statistics, with a minor in computer science.
How is GIC’s trading desk structured?
We operate a centralized trading desk with teams based in three regions: Singapore, London, and New York. This setup allows us to provide trading coverage around the clock.
Our trading team comprises Equities Trading, Fixed Income Trading, and Cross-Asset Trading. Traders collaborate closely across teams and regions because our strategies span a wide range of products, and some require continuous, 24-hour coverage.
What are the primary challenges, or ‘pain points’ for buy-side equity traders?
Our work is incredibly interesting but also quite challenging.
First, the workflow is complex. Traders manage cash equities, swaps, options, and futures trading while advising PMs with diverse mandates to identify the best instruments and execution strategies.
Second, liquidity conditions vary widely across markets. We build trusted partnerships with the sell-side so that we are their first call when opportunities arise.
Third, continuous learning is essential as new strategies and products emerge. At the organizational level, scalability, technology adoption, and trader development are key to enabling faster, data-informed decisions and delivering tailored, high-impact execution solutions.
Fourth, maintaining strong internal and external relationships is demanding. We collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across GIC and an extensive network of sell-side partners. Effective time management and prioritization are critical to maximizing business opportunities, strengthening collaboration, and sustaining trusted relationships across the investment ecosystem.
What are your current internal initiatives?
AI development is a major initiative for us. We focus on embedding AI across operations, fostering innovation through safe experimentation, and developing advanced agentic capabilities.
As an early adopter of AI, GIC launched ChatGIC, a safe-for-work version of ChatGPT, at the enterprise level in 2023. This marked the start of a broader effort to harness AI for tailored and insightful market intelligence.
By applying large language models to continuous streams of broker commentary from Bloomberg chats and emails, we can process vast amounts of information that would otherwise be impossible for humans to handle. Cross-referencing this data with PMs’ position data allows us to deliver market intelligence at scale while providing bespoke insights to individual PMs.
In addition, some traders have begun vibe coding in a secure environment, applying their market intuition directly to data. We’ve seen faster internal development as traders are empowered to analyze democratized datasets safely and effectively.
Together, these initiatives foster innovation, enhance decision-making, and strengthen GIC’s competitive edge through responsible and intelligent AI adoption.
How are you advancing automation?
We are advancing automation across multiple trading and investment processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and data-informed decision-making.
We have developed algo wheels that cover equities, futures, and FX globally. These are supported by robust quantitative models that evaluate algorithm performance and dynamically assign weights to ensure optimal execution across asset classes.
Given our significant trading activity in OTC products, we have also built a system that semi-automates the trading of voice-traded OTC instruments. Traders now receive system-generated Request for Quotes (RFQs) based on incoming orders, removing the need for manual input. At the same time, we use AI to process broker quotes received via Bloomberg chats, improving scalability while capturing proprietary trading data for smarter execution.
We also developed an integrated deal management platform to digitalize and scale GIC’s participation in ECM deals. This platform enhances efficiency and robustness by using AI to process deal-related emails from the Street and automatically share relevant information with PM groups.
What is the optimal skill set for the trader of today and the future?
The role of a trader today is far more hybrid than it used to be. Success depends on a balance of technical and interpersonal skills.
Looking ahead, trading roles will increasingly span multiple functions such as trading, analytics, and technology, requiring professionals to develop hybrid skill sets earlier in their careers.
As automation and AI reshape traditional junior analytical roles, organizations are increasingly seeking adaptable, tech-savvy professionals who can thrive in an evolving, technology-driven market. Yet, no matter how advanced AI becomes, human relationships and partnerships will remain at the heart of the business.
Any final thoughts?
I really enjoy my work at GIC, even though it can be challenging at times. With the rapid advancement of AI, adapting to new technologies thoughtfully and responsibly has become essential for buy-side traders.
We value long-term partnerships across the Street, which are central to our success. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is engaging with top experts across different asset classes and products, many of whom have become close friends. Building trust and cultivating lasting relationships with sell-side partners reflects our commitment to collaboration, integrity, and long-term value creation.
Across our trading teams, we combine market expertise and innovation with a mindset of learning and adaptability. As markets and technology continue to evolve, this helps us stay agile, grow, and create lasting impact in an increasingly dynamic investment landscape.
