Articles by Max Bowie
Alt data’s growing pains: Integration and aggregation challenges stall wider adoption
Demand for alternative data continues to grow among investment firms. So why are some alt data providers taking products off the market?
Big bank mergers, big cuts in data spend? Not so fast, experts say
With hundreds of millions of dollars spent per year on data and associated technologies, a merger the size of UBS’ takeover of Credit Suisse has the potential to take a huge chunk out of data vendors’ revenues. What’s the path forward?
Should I stay or should I go? What data execs can expect from the UBS–Credit Suisse merger
With major job cuts expected to result from the acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS, how will such big changes impact those in data and technology roles at the firms?
The buy-side burden: Capturing every document, everywhere, all at once
Ensuring that buy-side firms capture all relevant disclosures from funds—especially in the private markets—can be an onerous and costly task. Accelex is aiming to change that.
Citadel Securities, Jane Street battle fixed-income connectivity challenges with MultiLynq buy-in
Increased electronification of fixed income markets requires more connectivity, which entails greater costs for firms to connect to a growing list of trading venues.
After Xignite buy, ex-SunGard execs eye hedge funds, international markets for Quodd
Quodd’s recent acquisition of API data vendor Xignite will provide a springboard to launch the data vendor into new customer segments and markets.
SEC’s $5M Bloomberg BVAL fine targets ‘dark magic’ in fixed income pricing
Recent actions against Bloomberg and Ice for violations relating to evaluated pricing services suggest the US regulator may be setting the stage for stricter regulations to govern the sector.
Putting a price on your head (of data): The ROI of a CDO
The chief data officer has become recognized as a key role in a financial firm’s ability to manage its data assets, and reduce costs and risk. So why is it also so notoriously short-lived?
S&P buys ChartIQ to bolster charting, analytics capabilities
ChartIQ’s former owner, Finsemble, will continue to focus on building out its desktop integration business.
In 2022, cloud shows true potential to displace legacy data platforms
Once wary of the cloud, financial firms, their suppliers and the marketplaces where they trade are openly embracing it. And there are more signs of big tech firms accelerating buy-in by literally buying in to clients’ migration projects.
Reg SCI expansion set to increase broker-dealer systems scrutiny, reporting
The SEC is preparing to drastically expand the scope of Regulation SCI, which covers IT systems critical to the smooth functioning of the markets. But in the absence of formal proposals so far from the regulator, how can affected firms prepare for new…
OTC Markets rescues Edgar Online, plans ‘comprehensive’ US disclosure data service
Edgar Online’s new owners discuss their plans for the financial data and filings provider, and how owning the data will be key to expanding the range of services it can offer.
TMX embarks on data diversification and expansion play with WSH buy
The Canadian exchange is the latest to acquire a data vendor business, bringing non-exchange content to help it grow its data assets.
End of Bloomberg’s pandemic provision sparks opportunity—for BBG and terminal upstarts
Middle- and back-office staff at banks and buy-side firms who have become accustomed to remotely accessing Bloomberg terminals at home under a disaster recovery provision could set off a surge of new remote data terminal subscriptions.
Data brain drain may prompt move to managed services for market data management
A shortage of data professionals with suitable experience to run large financial firms’ data organizations could drive firms to completely outsource the management and administration of their third-largest expense.
Gold standard: Are golden copies losing their luster?
The concept of a “golden copy” is well established. But what happens when buy-side firms want to differentiate themselves by launching new services, only to find themselves maintaining multiple “single” sources of data—or worse, none at all?
MDSL cuts data vets, retools to focus on technical sales
The loss of experienced data specialists has shocked some industry execs, but the vendor says its plan to train a new cadre of technically focused staff will result in better service overall.
The surprising industries luring data talent away from Wall Street
Capital markets data specialists are finding their skills in high demand—but not from where you might think.
Messy MBSs? Startup uses deep learning to predict mortgage-backed securities markets
As interest rates rise and house prices fall after a steady period of the opposite dynamic, investors are looking for more accurate ways to price these factors into the value of mortgage-backed securities.
Putting location in its place: Geolocation data market contractions highlight importance of cost, context
All is not well for providers of geolocation data, with some slashing staff or shutting down entirely. Those still thriving are the ones who realize it’s no longer all about “location, location, location.”
From pharma to finance: Cracking the DNA of data management
Enterprise data management has traditionally addressed any aspect of financial data across an organization. But as investment firms’ portfolios of enterprise data broadens in definition to include other types of non-financial data, EDM projects must also…
Sell side ramps up outsourced trading desk services for still-skeptical buy side
A raft of new entrants are offering outsourced trading services to buy-side firms, anticipating a wave of takeup among larger asset managers, driven by cost and coverage needs. But are they aiming too high?
LSEG-MayStreet: From direct feeds revamp to reg tools, industry sources outline rationale for deal
The acquisition of the 10-year-old vendor will give the exchange group high-quality market data, low-latency direct feeds, and packet-capture capabilities, experts say.
In the world of financial data, context—not content—is the new king
For years, the mantra of the market data world has been ‘content is king.’ But with trading strategies now more dependent on being able to see the big picture, the value of context could quickly overtake the data itself.