Articles by Max Bowie
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?
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.
SEC warned that alt data is rife with due diligence risks days before Thinknum crisis emerged
Only proper due diligence on datasets and the companies providing them will safeguard alt data consumers from similar risks in the future.
New datasets illuminate risky ‘pledged securities’ for investment analysis, due diligence
Until now, information around this opaque type of dataset has been hard to find, though it’s becoming increasingly important to financial analysts.
Exchanges, vendors reinvent inventory management platforms to enable sales
Data sources are realizing they can leverage end-user inventory management tools to streamline their side of the data sales and licensing process.
Brokers eye regulatory info as growth dataset to ease banks’ compliance burden
For years, inter-dealer brokers have provided price data on the markets in which they broker trades. Now, they spy a new growth opportunity—providing tailored datasets of clients’ trading activity to help them comply with a growing and increasingly…
All about the integration: Melding tech is key to getting full value from vendor M&A
Recent tech and data M&A deals aren’t just about acquiring clients or 'bolt-on' solutions, but will yield longer-term gains through granular integration of the vendors’ product lines and technologies.
Believe nothing, trust no one: ‘Morgan Freeman’ sends a message to fintech professionals
There’s evidence that deepfakes are being used to commit fraud in the financial markets. And as scam artists become more tech savvy, financial firms will need to quickly employ new tools to protect their assets.
Memx data fees tackle professional vs. non-professional audit risk
The exchange delivers on its promise to reduce the cost of exchange data, but subscribers still face an administrative cost burden associated with the lower user fees.
Whose data is it, anyway?
The issue of data ownership may be obscure, but has important consequences for firms considering alternative data models, or firms looking to commercialize their in-house pricing or other resources. So ask yourself some serious questions: Who owns ‘your’…
Regulators, startups eye transparency efforts for private companies
When it comes to private companies, data transparency still lags its public market equivalents, and a lack of data quality and availability is a barrier to increased investor participation. But an alliance between a startup and niche brokers is aiming to…
Money.Net returns, plans launch of new terminal in early 2022
Last year, the low-cost data vendor filed for—and emerged from—Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection after facing financial woes and a lawsuit from former investors. This new iteration will be led by several execs from broker Gain Capital.
2021: The year when Big Tech ‘Googled’ the financial markets and liked the results
Now that cloud has become widely adopted by financial firms, Big Tech companies are seeking to leverage their other services to become more ingrained in the workflows of the capital markets.
Data Claus is Coming to Town
Max Bowie is once again back with his market-data themed Christmas column.
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em: The inexorable march of exchange data fees
Following IEX’s decision to begin charging nominal fees for its market data, Memx is the last one standing not yet charging for data. Max asks whether it will follow suit, or whether any exchange will be brave enough to take a stance on unpopular data…
Slow burn to a big bang: How the new wave of tech is changing market data platforms
For decades, market data platforms have been critical components of financial firms’ trading infrastructures. But with changing user needs and emerging technologies gaining ground, will the platforms of the past be replaced by upstart challengers—or can…
Disrupting data delivery: AWS Data Exchange gains ground with addition of FactSet content
Leveraging AWS’s presence on Wall Street, Data Exchange has the potential to shake up traditional financial data delivery and contracts, if it can add relevant content and overcome challenges like real-time streaming and connectivity in the cloud.
Post-trade in the cloud: Startup RQD aims to reimagine clearing
With the post-trade space poised for major change, startup clearing firm RQD says a new cloud-based platform will help it respond to client needs and new business opportunities.