May 26, 2008 Issue Abstract

The Analytical Toolkit: As Buy-Side Appetite for Advanced Technologies Increases, Spotlight Shines on Analytical Engines. The tools that asset management firms and hedge funds demand are evolving beyond mere complex event processing (CEP) offerings to even more advanced products that can assess risk and analyze liquidity in real-time. Additionally, institutional investors are also seeking customizable solutions in algorithmic trading and data management for ever more complex structured securities.

Industry Alert: Securities Traders Cite Market Structure Concerns. US stock exchanges should coordinate their daily opening processes to reduce confusion among investors, according to statements by the Securities Traders Association on changes it believes are needed in US market structure.

Structured Products: Industry Seeks Transparency For Mortgage-Backeds. The problems with pricing mortgage-backed securities and ratings agencies’ assessments of these securities that surfaced in the sub-prime credit crisis are pushing the securities industry slowly toward a reassessment of pricing methods.

Spotlight: Tony Mackay, Chairman of Chi-X Europe Ltd. and Chief Executive of Chi-X Global Inc. Pan-European alternative trading systems Chi-X Europe has been adding countries to its coverage in Europe, recently launched a sister venue in Canada, and has plans to expand into Asia.

New Product Roundup: Global Investment Technology looks at new and noteworthy technologies targeting institutional investors that have debuted so far in 2008.

Investment Operations: Middle Office Seen as Business Support Data Hub. The areas of greatest opportunity for providing new or improved middle-office services to buy-side institutions are in investment accounting, data management and cash management, according to research by Beacon Consulting Group.

Securities Standards: XBRL Sets Course to Become Global Financial Data Lingua. Just Systems Inc., a global software provider serving the financial industry, is contributing its intellectual property rights from the invention of the XBRL financial data standard to XBRL International Inc., a standards body that oversees the XBRL specification.