Feature
Square Peg
Canadian firms and regulators are debating whether proposed risk management policy makes the country’s market incompatible with global standards. Michael Shashoua reports on the industry’s preparations
Big Challenges And Big Opportunities
During an Inside Reference Data webcast about big data, panelists described how the phenomenon is redefining established approaches to data management, and how firms can harness the opportunities it presents. Nicholas Hamilton reports
Enterprising Strategies
Data vendors are showing increasing interest in enterprise data management, but insist they will not bundle products. Nicholas Hamilton finds there are many potential benefits to be had
Keeping Solvency II Solvent
The final report on the disclosure and reporting requirements for Solvency II has provided some clarification, but it also highlighted new data management challenges, writes Nicholas Hamilton
Are You Ready for 'Bigger' Data?
Banks’ legacy systems are struggling to cope with the ever-increasing volumes and speed of data. Steve Dew-Jones highlights some of the major considerations for the financial services industry if it is to catch up with other sectors.
Twitter: Alpha Generator?
Social media has revolutionized the way people communicate, personally and professionally. But can financial services institutions use the information shared through internet phenomena such as Twitter and Facebook to generate alpha? By Steve Dew-Jones
Eris Exchange Seeks to Futurize, Standardize, Capitalize
Eris, the Greek goddess of discord, inadvertently started the Trojan War by pitting the gods against each other. Neal Brady doesn’t want a war, or even discord. He wants Eris Exchange to grow through the unity of standardized contracts. An innovative…
Submitted For Their Approval
Financial firms are looking for more transparency from providers of pricing and valuations, particularly on sourcing of data. Michael Shashoua analyzes the factors influencing how data is obtained and managed
The Center Ground: CCPs Could Shift—Not Eliminate—Systemic Risk
On July 4, 2012, the Council of the European Union adopted a regulation that will see standardized derivatives contracts in Europe cleared through central counterparties. Designed to reduce systemic risk in the over-the-counter derivatives markets, how…
Mountain Lions: Pursuit of IT Innovation Keeps BlueMountain Ahead of the Pack
BlueMountain Capital Management, under the leadership of Michael Liberman, has assembled a core of technologists and quants that have made the New York hedge fund one of the most innovative asset managers in the industry for the best part of a decade. By…
Quantifying Catastrophe: Inside Cat Bonds
Catastrophe bonds, a type of insurance-linked security, have made a strong push in 2012, enabled by sophisticated modeling technologies used to predict and price their underlying events. Tim Bourgaize Murray examines what makes this intersection of…
Steps To Solvency II
In a webcast hosted by Inside Reference Data on June 15, speakers established the pillars required for compliance with the European capital adequacy and risk regulation. Michael Shashoua reports
The Wait Is Over
With key decisions about LEI standards now made and clearer definitions of Fatca and other regulations completed, Asian markets, especially Japan, can begin to respond. Michael Shashoua examines how the compliance challenges are stacking up
Responsible Parties
Most industry participants agree data management should be the responsibility of a specific business unit, but there are differing views about which department is most appropriate. Nicholas Hamilton explores the options and the factors end-user firms…
Who Pays The Price?
As regulatory pressure builds up on end-user firms, some believe regulations for data vendors will ease the pain. However, the vendor community says there are better ways to help its customers, writes Nicholas Hamilton
Questioning the Golden Standard
For pricing and reference data, as well as corporate actions, firms are now considering choices between single golden copy data and data reconciled from multiple sources. Michael Shashoua hears arguments for each
Forum and Function: Ideas Spring from Online Forums
Behind the big, complex ideas that make financial technology work, there is one small, simple idea. Jake Thomases looks beneath the million-dollar buzzwords at the humble internet forum, which is helping to spread big ideas faster than ever before.
Layer Cake: The Rise of Platform-as-a-Service
Cloud is the catch-all term encompassing a number of different components. Of those, software-as-a-service is the most prominent, although platform-as-a-service now offers similar, predominantly hardware-focused benefits to the financial services…
Momentum Trading's Garrett Nenner Combines Tech Savvy with Human Logic
Garrett Nenner has spent the last two decades shuffling between the sell-side and buy-side worlds. Now at broker Momentum Trading, Nenner has learned to combine technological savvy with human logic. By Anthony Malakian with photos by Amy Fletcher
Cantor Fitzgerald CTO Todd Berlent Runs Technology Like an Ultra-Marathon
Whether developing corporate strategy or completing an ultra-marathon, Todd Berlent exhibits a relentlessness few might expect from a CTO. But, as he sets about implementing a broader vision for technology at Cantor Fitzgerald, fewer still should…
Speed Trap: The Challenge of Risk Management On Demand
Volatility in the markets, the advent of algorithmic trading strategies, and ever-increasing trading volumes at faster speeds have led to the need for risk aggregation that can be run on demand, writes Steve Dew-Jones.
Vendor Relationships: What Lies Beneath
Consensus among buy-side firms is that there can sometimes be a world of difference between expectations and reality when dealing with a vendor. Steve Dew-Jones canvasses opinion on the most important considerations before awarding a technology or…
When It Comes to Mobile, All Devices Welcome
Phones and tablets aren’t just for Angry Birds. Mobile devices have allowed financial professionals to operate on a 24/7 basis, and be less attached to the office. Jake Thomases explores whether they should be allowed to embed work functionality into…
Reflections on the Paris Financial Information Summit
Nicholas Hamilton and Faye Kilburn speak to delegates at the Paris Financial Information Summit on 12 June about regulation, data management strategies and vendor-practitioner collaboration