ConFEAS 2024: A Growth Strategy for Exchanges
I’ve recently returned from the ConFEAS 2024 conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The location, right at the heart of the ancient Silk Road, together with the conference gathering of international stock exchanges and market actors, perfectly illustrates how modern markets meet the past
“Nobody gets fired for buying IBM”
The phrase “Nobody gets fired for buying IBM” has been a steadfast mantra in the tech industry, underscoring the inclination to choose established, reliable vendors to sidestep blame when issues arise. Twenty years ago, everyone knew that choosing reputable brands, such as IBM, was the way to go.
The Gulf Exchanges, They Are a-Changin’
A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to visit the Gulf region. In particular, I attended both the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) Annual Conference in Qatar, as well as The Capital Market Summit in Dubai.
Next-Gen Consultancy for Financial Markets
Ambitious financial exchanges need to keep growing. Yet in the world of capital markets this is not always a straightforward task. Each jurisdiction has its own national characteristics and different way of doing things. If an exchange decides to build its own trading or clearing infrastructure, unless it is happy paying an exorbitant cost, it will typically have to wait a number of years for delivery. So, what are the alternatives for exchanges?
Exchanges pivotal for EU’s Capital Markets Union
The EU’s Capital Markets Union (CMU) is receiving strong backing, with widespread enthusiasm evident among stakeholders who are optimistic about its successful rollout. A significant concern has been the persistent lack of on-screen liquidity in European markets, dominated as they are by over-the-counter (OTC) trading. This contrasts sharply with the US where, according to the European Central Bank (ECB), 75% of corporate financing is conducted through capital markets, compared to Europe’s reliance on traditional bank loans.
All Markets Rise: Maximising Exchange Profit by Modernising Across All Sectors
Imagine a scenario in which a large, successful financial exchange is making profits across all its markets alike, from equities, fixed income and derivatives, to commodities and FX. Yet, sadly, this vision is far from reality. Oftentimes smaller and less liquid markets, such as for fixed income and derivatives, find it difficult to obtain the modernisation of infrastructure they need, even when it is just a simple feature request.
Regulated Exchanges and AI: What’s Behind the Hype
The topic of AI has been the subject of a number of panels at recent industry events attended by Exberry. We thought it would be helpful to provide a snapshot of some of the leading thinking on AI, particularly how it is predicted to affect regulated exchanges.
Key Insights from WFEClear 2024 Conference
A few weeks ago, along with my colleagues, I attended the WFEClear 2024 Conference in Madrid, which focused on clearing and derivatives. Many relevant topics were discussed in the well-attended event and, specifically, I noted the panel on “Practicalities of DLT and Clearing” explored advancements in distributed ledger technology and its potential intersection with central clearing.
Modernising Post-Trade Systems: A Journey, Not a Destination
Post-trade processing is an integral part of the financial services industry as it verifies the details of very often instantaneous transactions. Similar to shifts in the rest of the financial services industry, clearing and settlement firms are being influenced by the emphasis of real-time risk management and data-driven decision-making.
Boca Insights: “Tokenisation’s Turning Point”
A turning point for digital markets is predicted to take place this year, according to a panel at International Futures Industry Conferences which took place in Boca last week. Limited market structure and lack of customization options were cited as reasons why many other assets have not yet been tokenised.
