A new survey from Citi Securities Services is lifting the lid on the widespread ramifications of North America’s recent shift to T+1 settlement, with effects rippling across the entire trade lifecycle. While the DTCC, brokers, and custodians have remained relatively quiet since the May transition, Citi’s Securities Services Evolution 2024 survey shows that 44 percent… Read More >>
IVP Expands Reach via IntegriDATA Acquisition
With backing from private equity firm PPC Enterprises (PPC), managed services provider Indus Valley Partners (IVP) has acquired IntegriDATA, an alternative investment software solutions provider, and combined their respective cloud platforms, officials say. A specialist middle-market PE firm, PPC is a minority investor in IVP, and the acquisition is intended to position the IVP Group… Read More >>
ASX Sued Over Remarks About CHESS Replacement Effort
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the securities industry regulator for Australia, is taking exchange operator the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) to court over allegations that ASX officials made “misleading statements related to its Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS) replacement project.” The case was filed in the Federal Court of Australia on Aug…. Read More >>
Derivatives Document Negotiations Need More Automation
After conducting a survey on document negotiation, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) is making a strong case for more digitization of derivatives documentation. ISDA officials are also arguing that firms use ISDA Create, an online platform for negotiating, producing, and executing derivatives documentation. This includes the ISDA Master Agreements, variation margin credit support… Read More >>
E.U.’s Buy Side Wants T+1 to Happen Sooner
The German buy side is advocating for the earlier adoption of shorter T+1 settlement, amid growing calls for harmonization with the U.K. and Switzerland. The German Investment Funds Association (BVI), which represents 115 fund companies and asset managers with €4 trillion ($4.4 trillion) in assets under management (AUM), is pushing for the European Union to… Read More >>
Vistra Bolsters Fund Admin Services via Acquisition
Professional services provider Vistra has completed its acquisition of the fund administration and transfer agency business of Phoenix American Financial Services, Inc., officials say. The acquisition did not include Phoenix American’s aviation services business. “This transaction will expand Vistra’s presence and capabilities in the business-critical U.S. market, allowing it to provide deeper and broader end-to-end… Read More >>
Apex Fintech Launches Platform for Building Investment Infrastructures
Apex Fintech Solutions is launching an investment infrastructure platform, dubbed Apex Ascend, that has been designed to help clients improve their capability to “operate efficiently and better navigate risk on a global scale,” officials say. The cloud-native platform offers built-in tools and data to help firms create, integrate, scale, and operate globally and offers key… Read More >>
SS&C Leverages A.I. for ‘Contact Center’ Platform
Asset managers and other financial services firms working in the life, pensions, and retirement sectors need optimal customer service and to help them SS&C Technologies has launched its Contact Center platform, which leverages artificial intelligence (A.I.) to deliver “personalized customer experiences 24/7,” officials say. The SS&C Contact Center is the next-generation platform that builds upon… Read More >>
CFTC Pays $8M to Insider Whistleblower
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reports that it recently rewarded an insider whistleblower with more than $8 million for providing “significant information and assistance that led the CFTC and other agencies to bring multiple enforcement actions.” In fact, the whistleblower “helped the CFTC establish that one or more derivatives market participants deceived clients about… Read More >>
T+1: No Victory Until Affirmations Reach 100%
As many teams in North America canceled their weekly T+1 transition meetings, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler has called on the U.K. to trigger its own implementation. Top of the list of lessons to learn from North America’s transition, Gensler said, is setting a date. “Until you do that, it is a lot… Read More >>