Eugene Grygo, Chief Content Editor, FTF News
Suddenly, we’re heading into the Fourth of July holiday.
Independence Day marks the end of the first half of a year that has been marked by ongoing technology disruptions, volatile markets, dramatic geopolitical situations, a flurry of mergers and acquisitions, a crypto currency craze, and a strong sense that while new regulation has not ceased, we are on the verge of a new era.
At this point, it’s a little difficult to tell exactly what that the new era will be. However, the signs are there that established securities operations and technologies are ripe for the next stage.
I think the Regulatory Age is slowly giving way to the push-and-pull of digital and disruptive trends. My educated guess (based on past industry movements) is that most firms will embrace disruptions for post-trade processes in fairly individualized ways.
Where firms can leapfrog via digital and/or disruptive technologies, they will. If it’s better to take an incremental approach and incorporate new technologies in conjunction with incumbent systems, firms will take a practical approach, knowing that one day a complete overhaul may be possible.
Sadly, some firms may doom themselves and shove their heads in the sand. They will hope and pray that that progress will go away or that a severe economic downturn will put off advancements in Ops and IT. Yet time has shown that a crisis causing a necessity is often the spur for major innovations. Fighting the future is futile.
The good thing about this Independence Day is that by falling in the middle of the week it gives many people an excuse to take a week or more off for a vacation. This will allow many securities industry movers and shakers more time to catch their breath and reflect upon the first half of 2018. That will prove useful as the disruptions have no intentions of slowing down.
Speaking of disruptions, FTF News will have new stories for Monday, July 2, but will be running some of our best content from the first six months of this year during the rest of the week. We will be back to it full swing for July 9.
Financial Technologies Forum (FTF) wishes everyone a great time for the Independence Day holidays and is looking forward to the rest of this dynamic year.
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