Europe
Editor’s Picks: Our best from 2025
Anthony Malakian picks out 10 stories from the past 12 months that set the stage for the new year.
AI & data enablement: A looming reality or pipe dream?
Waters Wrap: The promise of AI and agents is massive, and real-world success stories are trickling out. But Anthony notes that firms still need to be hyper-focused on getting the data foundation correct before adding layers.
Data managers worry lack of funding, staffing will hinder AI ambitions
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to WatersTechnology’s data benchmark survey rated the pressure they’re receiving from senior executives and the board as very high. But is the money flowing for talent and data management?
As AI pressures mount, banks split on how to handle staffing
Benchmarking: Over the next 12 months, almost a third of G-Sib respondents said they plan to decrease headcount in their data function.
CME, LSEG align on market data licensing in GenAI era
The two major exchanges say they are licensing the use case—not the technology.
EY and Microsoft partner to bring agentic AI to risk management
The two firms are part of a deal to bring agentic AI processes to core operations like lending, servicing and risk, starting at Eurobank.
Tokenization & Private Markets: Where mixed data finds a needed partner?
Waters Wrap: Reading the tea leaves, Anthony predicts BlackRock’s Preqin deal, Securitize’s IPO, and numerous public comments from industry leaders are just the tip of the iceberg.
S&P shutters NMRF solution amid audit questions
Vendors face adverse economics due to a low number of IMA banks and prospects of regulatory easing.
As outages spread, it’s time to rethink how we view infrastructure technology
Waters Wrap: First AWS and then Azure. And these are only the most recent of significant outages. Anthony says a change is needed when it comes to calculating server migrations.
Row breaks out over cause of FX settlement fails
One European bank blames T+1 for a 50% jump in FX fails, but industry groups dispute the claims.
SIX, ViaNexus build market data platform to unite data consumers, producers
The assets that formerly comprised IEX Cloud will underpin a new market data platform that hopes to give SIX Group and its data consumers a closer, more controlled relationship.
Follow the money: The fintech funding machine shifts gears
The IMD Wrap: Freshly back from the hospital, Max sizes up the booming (or is it?) fintech investment universe and wonders where to sock away his retirement savings.
Bank of America’s GenAI plan wants to avoid ‘sins of the past’
Waters Wrap: Anthony spoke with BofA’s head of platform and head of technology to discuss how the bank is exploring new forms of AI while reducing tech debt and growing interoperability.
TMX Group buys Verity, Deutsche Börse puts market data on-chain, and more
The Waters Cooler: The Texas Stock Exchange is SEC-approved, FalconX launches 24/7 access to OTC crypto options, and the CFTC needs a chair.
Reporting overhaul: the EU’s near-impossible balancing act
Regulators must weigh their desire to streamline derivatives reporting against the need to gather crucial trade data.
Will return-to-office mandates fuel market data brain drain?
The IMD Wrap: Increasingly, market data systems can be operated completely remotely. So, why are firms insisting that data professionals return to the office?
Industry vets ally to launch full-service data consultancy
The new company combines the skills and experience of individuals and firms that each serve different needs of the data industry.
The TNS–Radianz deal hints at underlying issues in trader voice
Waters Wrap: As part of its cost-cutting program, BT shipped its Radianz unit to TNS, but the deal didn’t include its Trading & Command trader voice property. Anthony finds that interesting.
FactSet adds MarketAxess CP+ data, LSEG files dismissal, BNY’s new AI lab, and more
The Waters Cooler: Synthetic data for LLM training, Dora confusion, GenAI’s ‘blind spots,’ and our 9/11 remembrance in this week’s news roundup.
DORA delay leaves EU banks fighting for their audit rights
The regulation requires firms to expand scrutiny of critical vendors that haven’t yet been identified.
Citi gears up for EU T+1 climb
The bank has a dedicated team examining what it needs to do to ensure a successful transition to T+1 in Europe.