Opinion
February 2014: In Praise of the Corporate Plodder
I’m not sure whether there’s a formal name for them – a quick Google search suggests that my hunch is spot-on – but I regularly use a collective term to describe the drones of the business, the worker bees, the foot soldiers: corporate plodders.
James Rundle: There and Back Again
In January, European political authorities provisionally agreed on a package of reforms to securities markets that will have deep consequences for financial services firms. As the technical work can now get underway, James looks at the challenges ahead…
Anthony Malakian: Learning Lessons
Anthony’s dad taught him a lesson from his own career: Sometimes great ideas come from unexpected places. It’s good, therefore, to always listen and be open to new ideas.
Nicholas Hamilton: Surprise, Surprise
The nominations for the board of directors of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation include some surprises and clues about the form the Central Operating Unit might take, writes Nicholas Hamilton.
Max Bowie: This Valentine’s Day, Why Not … Break Up?
Any recipe for success involves a combination of ingredients. But sometimes recipes taste better when a few toxic ingredients are removed. And with everyone looking to be disruptive in 2014, Max notes that you don’t make a disruption omelet without…
Silicon Valley's Stinging—Why Banks' CTOs Should Take Notice
News out of Silicon Valley took a decidedly rocky turn in the past week, with two pioneers of disruptive technology getting arrested and shunned, respectively. Soul searching has ensued. There are practical and personnel reasons why this will—and won't…
Plug and Play
In the course of my job, I primarily speak with technologists. That is to say, the people who actually do the implementations in firms, and who are involved in the purchase, decision making and the due diligence.
Spreadsheets Still Rule, But for How Long?
Automation is good, but comfort can sometimes prove better. Anthony questions why Excel spreadsheets are still so prevalent on the buy side, especially at new firms that can choose their own path with new, advanced data management tools.
Are You Sure You Don't Need A Pre-LEI?
Some industry participants have fallen into the trap of assuming requirements to report pre-legal entity identifiers under EMIR will not affect them, and they are running out of time to put things right
Mifid II Makes Headlines Without News
Last week saw a flurry of activity from the trade press as European authorities announced that they had agreed, informally, on a package of deals that would cement the review of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid II). But there wasn't…
Compliance Officers, I Feel Your Transcription Pain
As firms in the US gear up for Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC’s) communications recording rule 1.35(a), Anthony understands the headaches involved in converting voice recordings to text.
What Can Be Learned From LEI Board Nominations?
The nominations for the board of directors of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation includes some surprises and clues about the form the Central Operating Unit might take
Complexity or Simplicity - The Data Quality Question
Those seeking to increase data quality, cope with new identifier standards or meet the mandates laid out by Europe's new market infrastructure regulation, are looking at how to reduce the complexity of the methods designed to meet simple goals
Max Bowie: Cost, Regs, Volumes, Analytics to Drive Data Innovation in 2014
With economic woes hampering innovation in recent years, Max says the winds of change blowing from different directions may create a perfect storm of pressures that force the industry to consider new options in 2014.
Anthony Malakian: When the Love is Gone
In a world of new technologies—where evolution happens at breakneck speeds—Anthony says that buy-side firms need to employ new strategies when managing their third-party relationships. Perhaps they can learn a lesson or two from their sell-side brethren?
James Rundle: Imperfect Solutions
Most Western exchanges have implemented safety measures to mitigate share-price swings, but others are beginning to experience the algorithmic troubles that brought trading firms to their knees in recent years. Kill switches and circuit breakers don’t…
Michael Shashoua: The Way of the World
With respect to the spread of US and Euro-centric data management systems, as well as regulation to other regions, Michael points out that the difficulties in translating new standards and laws could highlight cultural differences that service providers…
January 2014: Do Algorithms Dream of Super-Fast Sheep?
While algorithms are far from sentient, Victor wonders what they would think about if they could.
Commoditizing Secret Sauce
Don't over-egg the omelet.
Basel Committee's Next Steps
Guidance on Basel III capital adequacy regulation issued last year focused on risk calculation methods, and sends a signal on what else the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision could address in fleshing out the rules