Banks and securities firms are under regulatory and competitive pressures to get a better grip on the operational data management of key middle- and back-office functions that have been poorly served for decades. The push for ops data efficiencies has resulted in some new ground rules for how firms will take on their complex internal… Read More >>
eClerx Takes on CSA Data as Advise Targets European Filing Directive
eClerx Launches ISDA CSA Solution Business processing vendor eClerx has launched the ISDA Credit Support Annex (CSA) Document Risk Review solution to help financial institutions mine information from CSAs for over-the-counter derivatives clearing, company officials say. The offering aims to offer more support for credit and legal risk, optimization of cash and collateral, and operational… Read More >>
The Buy Side Cautiously Embraces the Cloud
The buy side may be giving in to the savings of cloud computing, but only 50% of those surveyed recently by IDG Research Services say they use the cloud for financial applications. Nearly two-thirds of the hedge funds, fund-of-funds, private equity and investment management firms questioned are using the cloud for basic business and office… Read More >>
FTF’s Top Trends for Operations in 2012, Part 2
The volatile markets in 2011 do not foster the best conditions for innovation in middle and back office operations. However, necessity is the mother of invention and we have uncovered several areas of IT and business innovation, which form the basis for our second set of predictions for the New Year. One intriguing innovation in… Read More >>
More IT Choices for Hedge Funds
Hedge funds have an increasing number of outsourcing choices for their IT infrastructures—a new twist on the buy vs. build question. This new array of alternatives can help fund managers, particularly the small-to-medium-sized firms and start-ups, in the battle for investor attention in a rebounding market, and can help them meet new regulatory obligations. Yet… Read More >>
Beyond Cloud Computing 101
Certain new realities of cloud computing are becoming clear as underscored by FTF’s briefing last week in New York. For starters, the cloud is setting the agenda for data centers; private clouds often come with trade-offs; and, as more systems move to the clouds, firms must have a better grip on contingencies in case their… Read More >>
BBH: Regulators to Scrutinize Clouds
Financial services firms should expect more regulatory scrutiny as they advance their usage of cloud computing, says Christopher C. Remondi, a managing director at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH). Remondi, the global head of BBH’s systems and technology division, made his comments at the SWIFT Operations Forum – Americas conference in New York last… Read More >>
Q&A: Holly Miller Says Investors Deserve Better Information
[EDITOR’S NOTE: In this second installment of my conversation with Holly H. Miller, founding partner of Stone House Consulting, we focus on the ways IT and operations staffs at investment management firms could be working together better, communication issues between investors and investment management firms, and the impact of social media on operational risk. Stone House… Read More >>
Q&A: Holly Miller Takes On Investors
[EDITOR’S NOTE: I recently got the chance to speak to Holly H. Miller, founding partner of Stone House Consulting, which provides strategic, operational and IT consulting services to investment managers and hedge funds. I attended her training course, “Surviving a Hedge Fund Operational Due Diligence” last month.Miller is the chairperson for Financial Technologies Forum’s 5th… Read More >>
Q&A: Aite’s Honoré Says Clouds Will Need Add-Ons
Despite the hype, cloud computing is not the greatest thing since sliced bread, said Adam D. Honoré, research director at Boston-based market research firm Aite Group. Instead, he sees it as the “current, sexy iteration of technology development” that has to add value before it truly gains ground. Ultimately, the key to success in the… Read More >>
